Africa-Press – Angola. The Angolan government is investing in tourism as part of a broader strategy to diversify the economy and reduce dependence on oil. The government announced it will inject US$3 billion into the sector, despite the fact that international arrivals remain low—around 129,000 per year.
The Strategic Tourism Plan (2024-27) aims to expand visitor flows, increase contributions to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and position the country as a competitive destination in Africa.
Increase ambitions
According to officials present at the public launch in Luanda, the plan aims to build a stronger tourism sector through training, infrastructure improvements, innovation, and communication. The initiative is part of the National Tourism Promotion Plan (PLANATUR) and seeks to create a framework that can increase tourism’s contribution to GDP from its current insignificant level (estimated at just 0.01% in recent years) to a more significant share.
By 2050, the Government’s vision is to increase international arrivals to two million visitors per year, which would require constant annual growth of around 4%.
Strategic priorities
The plan is based on four pillars:
– Training: Development of skills among cultural and tourism agents.
– Communication: Expansion of promotion through digital marketing, events and international branding campaigns (marketing strategies created by companies, organizations or even countries to build, strengthen or reposition a brand’s image).
– Planning: Development of integrated tourist areas in provinces with high potential.
– Reclassification: Modernization of existing infrastructure and alignment of services with international standards.
– Eight provinces were identified as priorities for development: Benguela, Luanda, Cuando Cubango, Cuanza Norte, Malanje, Namibe, Huíla and Zaire.
Infrastructure and security
Infrastructure and access have been a recurring challenge in Angola’s tourism sector. Industry leaders emphasize that improving security involves more than just policing, but also providing tourists with guarantees—including well-lit roads, reliable gas stations, and access to banking and financial services in destination areas.
Improved air links and simplified visa regimes are also part of the Executive’s strategy, as Angola seeks to become more attractive to regional and international visitors.
Investment prospects
The government has signaled that it will inject significant funding into tourism through 2027, with figures of around $3 billion mentioned by local authorities, although detailed allocations remain unclear. The investment is expected to target infrastructure rehabilitation, hospitality services, and digital innovation.
Private sector participation will be essential. The Angolan Hotel and Resort Association emphasized that achieving the government’s ambitious goals requires partnerships, training at all levels, and strong local supply chains to ensure sustainable growth.
The Angolan Strategic Tourism Plan represents a critical step in the economy’s transition away from hydrocarbons. The goals are ambitious, but the combination of infrastructure investment, digital promotion, and institutional reform provides a framework for gradual transformation.
If successful, the country could transform its vast cultural heritage, natural beauty, and coastal resources into an engine of employment, foreign exchange, and inclusive growth. The message from Luanda is clear: tourism is no longer a marginal sector—it is part of the country’s long-term strategy for economic resilience.
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