FINAL NOTIFICATION OF THE SCHOLARSHIP INTERNATIONAL TOURISM OF ANGOLA BITUR-2024, UNDER THE MOTTO: TOURISM AS DETERMINING FACTOR FOR ECONOMY DIVERSIFICATION
A 7th Edition of the Angola International Tourism Exchange BITUR-2024, took place at province of Huíla, between the 2nd and 4th of May, under the motto “Tourism as a determining factor for diversification of the economy”.
The opening ceremony of the event, was chaired by His Excellency, Minister of State and Head of the Civil House of President of the Republic, Dr. Adão Francisco Correia de Almeida, who during the his speech, welcomed the fact of this event takes place for the first time outside the country's Capital, transmitting a correct message about the country's tourism potential in general and about the contribution that the sector can make to local development and to reduce existing asymmetries between the different regions of the country, in occasion challenged the Ministry of Tourism to work with the Ministry of Territorial Administration, Provincial Governments and Administrations Municipalities in order to awaken in local administration bodies a greater engagement in promoting local tourism, and also recognized that tourism is one of the sectors that has the greatest potential to contribute to transformation structure of our economy, whose diversification process is one of the biggest current challenges.
His Excellency Minister of State, recalled the interest and ambition that the Executive gives to the tourism sector, having highlighted some measures and policies adopted, as well as the need to continue working on the construction of necessary infrastructures, which guarantee its development, and to work in a SIMPLIFICA TURISMO process. Finally, he appealed to every Angolan to play the role of ambassador in favor of tourism in Angola, promoting our culture, our history, our fauna, our flora and all tourist assets existing.
The Honorable Governor from the Province of Huíla, Eng. Nuno Mahapi Dala, in his address thanked in an honorable way the presence of all participants, praised the resources of the province and the potential that the country has in the tourism sector and appealed to governments, investors and citizens, the responsibility to join forces aimed at promoting tourism as a fundamental pillar for diversification of the economy capable of promoting the sustainable development of local communities.
Still during the ceremony opening, the Honorable Minister of Tourism, Dr. Márcio de Jesus Lopes Daniel, expressed his enthusiasm and satisfaction regarding the presence of participants, and the choice to hold BITUR-2024 in the province of Huíla, being the first time outside Luanda, it is a reflection of the Executive's commitment in bringing the harmonious development of tourism to all regions of the country.
He stressed that to achieve the harmonious development of tourism it is necessary to invest strategically in infrastructure, workforce training, creating a business environment favorable to investors, and guarantee security and accessibility to tourist destinations.
You also took advantage of opportunity to address Tour Operators, for the first time, saying that the success of the economic sector of each of the private operators is greatest concern and to this end will remove all bureaucratic barriers that prevent the obtaining of profits and that counts on the participation of all actors, especially through associations, so that the much desired development of the national tourism is achieved.
The Forum was held de Turismo that the margin of BITUR 2024, brought together leaders, professionals, academics, business people, students and other actors whose role in tourism development is fundamental, to share ideas and experiences in order to face the countless challenges and opportunities that characterize tourism in Angola.
The main objective of the Forum was to promote an open and constructive dialogue that aims to define concrete actions aimed at eliminating barriers, creating opportunities, promoting social inclusion, the preservation of natural heritage, the valorization of cultural heritage and the sustainable development of tourism.
With this aim, three themes were addressed divided into an equal number of panels:
PANEL I – O ROLE OF THE STATE IN BOOST TOURISM
O The first panel featured interventions by foreign speakers, from Cabo Verde, Morocco and Portugal who spoke about their experiences and the process evolution of tourism in the respective countries. Having highlighted the intervention of the State in the strategic planning process, involving the participation of the private sector, in training technical-professional as a guarantor of the provision of quality services, promotion of employment and qualified self-employment, in the infrastructure of basic services essential for the development of tourism, in the creation and facilitation of financial mechanisms to support companies in the sector to face moments of crisis and beyond, in adapting and modernizing the legal framework based on the needs and evolution of the sector, in offering fundamental tax incentives to attract investment private sector, in the identification and planning of territories destined for the use of activity and investment, and in promoting the Turismo Nacional brand as tourist destination at a global level, based on elements such as security of the destination and authenticity of products as an intrinsic characteristic of cultural and natural values of the country.
A national experience brought to light the main challenges of structural and cyclical circumstances that hinder the development of the tourism sector in Angola, namely, the deficit of infrastructures, the feeling of insecurity, the deficit in training technical-professional, the weak attraction of private investment, etc. As solutions were presented, a set of ongoing initiatives within the scope governmental and not only, with emphasis on the initiative on the Area Cross-border Environmental Conservation, of which Angola is part and which aims simultaneously environmental preservation and sustainable development of the Tourism.
During this panel it was equally The recently approved Tourism Promotion Plan was presented, which presents short and medium term goals, and a set of actions based on requalification of resources, promotion of the Angola Brand and professional training. In this scope, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed on the sidelines of BITUR 2024 between the Institute of Tourism Promotion – INFOTUR and the National Institute of Employment and Professional Training INEFOP.
PANEL II HAD AS ARTICULATION THEME MULTISECTORIAL FOR THE HARMONIOUS DEVELOPMENT OF EXPERIENCE TOURISM
In this panel discussed the importance of cooperation between different institutions to ensure harmonious development, which promotes social well-being, environmental preservation, cultural appreciation, economic growth and competitiveness. Measures, initiatives and projects were presented that the different institutions develop and that stimulate the growth of Tourism, such as In this case, the exemption and facilitation procedures for tourist visas, the actions with diplomatic bodies in order to promote the destination of Angola, the creation of an online platformfor visa applications, the modernization and updating of its services to technological level to facilitate migration processes, the opening of new migratory posts, the opening of conservation areas for carrying out of ecotourism activities and identification of spaces for concession tourism in these places, the implementation of the blue economy as a proposal for diversification of the tourist offer, the use of TAAG as an ambassador for tourism as well as the alliances that the flag company hopes to create to ensure greater air connectivity between destinations nationally and international level, and the concern of the National Land Transport Agency in ensuring a greater offer in relation to people's mobility by road and railways.
Stands out Also during the event, the launch and delivery of the Malanje Tourist Route to the Vice-Governor of the Province of Malanje Doctor Franco Mufinda.
These These are measures that will allow greater articulation of the tourism sector at the same time that highlights multisectoral engagement to promote tourism.
PANEL III – PAPER OF INSTITUTIONS FINANCE TO SUPPORT TOURISM PROJECTS
This theme touched on some existing State mechanisms for support and financing for companies, as is the case of FACRA – Fundo Activo de Capital de Risk, which is an instrument made available to Micro, Small and Medium-Sized Companies Companies (MSME) in the initial phase of activity or expanding their business. Its mission is to support the sustainable growth of companies, implementing corporate strategies with a view to increasing operational efficiency. Having its characteristics and the investment process that was also announced, as stated in PLANATUR, a reinforcement of 20 550 000 AKZ (Twenty thousand five hundred and fifty million kwanzas) per year until 2027.
No within the scope of support for companies, INAPEM – National Institute for Micro Support, Small and Medium Enterprises, said that through the PAC – Support Program for Credit, around four billion kwanzas were approved for the sector tourism, of which more than 70% of this amount has already been disbursed.
CONCLUSIONS
After two days of intense and warm discussions around the topic of Tourism as a determining factor for the diversification of the economy, were the following conclusions are presented:
1. The Plans of Strategic Development as well as other instruments of tourism planning are fundamental to safeguarding the development structured tourism offer, with a view to developing a competitive destination world-class;
2. Pela transversal characteristic that the tourism sector presents, its development requires the inclusion of all ministerial departments, as well as the different actors, including the private sector, academics, and the common citizen, in order to develop actions in a concerted manner;
3. The bet on professional technical training and comprehensive training for all agents of the reception chain must be seen by the State as its main mission, without prejudice to the intervention of the private sector or its implementation through public-private partnership;
4. The creation of tourist products must be based on local particularities, allowing appreciation of culture and the preservation of the characteristics of fauna and flora, thus allowing the presentation of experiences to visitors of the destination unique and memorable;
5. The destinations insurance policies tend to be highly visited, this being a fundamental element for flow generation. In the case of Angola, it is necessary to develop marketing to change perception regarding your image;
6. The measurements of tax incentives, updating the legal legal framework must continue to deserve the attention of the State in order to remove all barriers that undermine the good business environment and delay the development of tourist activity;
7. The creation of financing mechanism for the sector is essential to boost initiatives innovative micro small and medium-sized enterprises, as demonstrated by the experiences of countries guests;
8. The creation of a tourist tax is an important mechanism that guarantees the financing of promoting the country's image, as well as other structuring actions for the development of the sector.
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12.Cooperation and cooperation coordination between the State and the private sector, particularly through tourism sector associations, is vital in the development of concrete actions to boost the activity tourism as a segment of the productive sector;
13.Improving conditions of the roads like this such as increasing the railway network are important, since they constitute decisive factors for the increase in tourist flows to places and attractions;
14.We believe that, by embrace these guidelines, Angola is on the right path to becoming an excellent tourist destination, contributing significantly to economic diversification.
Together and all to build one future vibrant tourism in Angola.
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