In Angola 2007/2008 - (Page 5) TOURISM Tourism, Investment Opportunities Abound Hotels and Ecotourism are Ripe for Development Angola’s business sector is booming, thanks to government efforts to promote private investment in targeted industry sectors and development zones. The number of visitors to Angola nearly doubled from 106,625 in 2003 to 209,956 in 2005. Hailing primarily from Europe, tourists and businesspeople produced more than USD 104 million in revenue, 80% of which was spent on goods and services. This influx of businesspeople, as well as the throngs of sports tourists expected in 2010, translates into a wide range of development opportunities for enterprising locals and foreigners. According to the World Travel & Tourism Council, growth in Angola’s travel and tourism sector in real terms is projected at 31.1% for 2007, with projections between 2008 and 2017 at a healthy 9.0% per year. In nominal terms, this equates to the generation of USD 6,965.2 million in 2007, growing to USD 16,502.2 million by 2017. The OUZIT Ecotourism Project Angola has partnered with South Africa’s Peace Parks Foundation to facilitate the establishment of transfrontier conservation areas to support sustainable economic development and biodiversity protection, as well as the promotion of regional peace and stability. The Okavango-Zambezi (OUZIT) Project presents a prime opportunity for investors interested in this growing sector of the tourism industry. The OUZIT Project region is the largest contiguous wilderness, wetland, and wildlife area in southern Africa, and comprises some 260,000 km2 with game parks in Angola, Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. The area supports a vast array of animal and plant life and contains one of the world’s largest water systems, with headwaters originating in Angola’s western highlands of Kuando Kubango. The site will be on the tourist itinerary of the 2010 African World Cup, which will be held in South Africa. The EEC and Soviet Union have expressed interest in providing financial support for the OUZIT Project, and one European company has said it intends to invest USD 800 million. OUZIT Investment Opportunities in Angola • Safari Expeditions • Sports Hunting and Fishing • Restaurants • Campgrounds • Hotels and Resorts Breathtaking Landscape, Rich Culture Within the next couple of years, visitors to Angola will be able to get a firsthand look at the extraordinary natural beauty and wildlife found throughout the country. Angola boasts an endless stretch of white sand beaches along its 1,650 kilometers of Atlantic coastline, which offers every imaginable type of water activity. The country’s majestic rivers, many of which are navigable for hundreds of kilometers, offer spectacular waterfalls and plenty of rapids to entice intrepid thrill seekers. Of the thirteen national parks and reserves, the Kissama National Park outside the capital of Luanda is one of the largest natural reserves in the world. The diverse landscapes, climates, cultures, and colors of Angola’s eighteen provinces offer visitors a cultural tapestry of folklore, rhythmic music and dance, and exquisite cuisine. And with everything from mountains to open plains, from wide beaches to thick tropical rain forest, Angola offers innumerable opportunities for travel and tourism. A Growing Mecca for Sports Enthusiasts These days, organizers of high-profile, regional sporting events are keen to hold their games in Angola. From August 15-25, 2007, the country not only hosted Afrobasket, but the men’s national team won its ninth African championship. And Angola is looking forward to 2010 when it will host the African Soccer Championship (CAN). To prepare for CAN, the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism is actively involved in planning the hotel construction needed to accommodate the thousands of fans expected to attend. The goal is for ten five- and three-star hotels, with 3,000 beds or more, by 2010. (continued on page 6) 5
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