Albino argued that protected areas should no longer remain isolated spaces but become part of the local economic fabric. The production of food for both residents and visitors within a framework of sustainability is emerging as a doubly advantageous strategy: it stimulates local trade while reinforcing self-sufficiency under principles of environmental responsibility.
The forum in Maputo, organized under the auspices of the African Diplomatic Tourism and Investment Forum, was not only a meeting point for diplomacy and investors, but also a stage to reaffirm tourism as a strategic pillar of national development. The focus on environmental protection, combined at the same time with concrete action, sends a clear signal: Mozambique is committed to economic growth that does not sacrifice its values or its landscapes.
The importance of tourism for Mozambique’s economy was also underscored by other leaders during the forum. Prime Minister Maria Levi, in her opening address, presented tourism as a tool for economic sovereignty and continental cohesion. Levi highlighted the country’s competitive advantages, from its strategic location on the Indian Ocean to the richness of its gastronomy, the hospitality of its people, and its ability to attract visitors through authentic and diverse experiences. She was joined by key ministers, including those of Economy and Communications and Digital Transformation, demonstrating a unified governmental stance on the need to place tourism at the heart of a coordinated development strategy.
In addition, the African Tourism Board, represented by its Executive Chairman, Cuthbert Ncube, firmly endorsed this vision during a gala dinner held around the forum. Ncube called for greater investment in tourism, supported by governments committed to strengthening democratic principles, enhancing connectivity between African destinations, and developing basic infrastructure to support growth across the region.
This forum, coinciding with the celebration of the country’s 50th independence anniversary, provided Mozambique with a platform to consolidate its leadership and avenues of continental cooperation. The restoration of Gorongosa National Park, now considered a model of effective conservation, and successful projects such as the revitalization of the Pazarruta Archipelago and the reintroduction of the Big Five into regional parks, were highlighted as tangible examples of tourism integrated with biodiversity protection.
This conference was much more than a protocol event. It served as a platform to consolidate an alternative vision of development—one that reconciles economy, ecology, and diplomacy. Mozambique aims to become an African benchmark in sustainable tourism, investing not only in infrastructure but also in rules, institutions, and ideas oriented toward a more prosperous and balanced future. This holistic and strategic approach paints a picture in which natural beauty, social well-being, and economic growth coexist in true symbiosis.
