Luanda – The National Tourism Promotion Plan (PLANATUR) was presented this week at the United Nations headquarters in New York, in the United States of America (USA), with a view to publicizing the tourism potential that Angola offers.
According to a press release to which ANGOP had access today, this document was delivered by Angola's permanent representative to the United Nations, Francisco José da Cruz, within the scope of UN Sustainability Week, which has been running since Monday, April 15.
According to the note, PLANATUR aims to ensure large-scale direct investments, to facilitate access for tourists to Angola and their internal mobility.
This plan also intends to develop public service infrastructures, safeguard the training and qualifications of staff to provide services and improve the legal and regulatory framework for tourism activity in the country.
According to Ambassador Francisco José da Cruz, Angola's tourism potential can contribute directly or indirectly to the fulfillment of the United Nations 2030 Agenda, with emphasis on inclusive economic growth, consumption and production, as well as the sustainable use of the oceans and marine resources, respectively.
“Angola has a strong potential in tourism, which represents an exceptional opportunity to enhance the ongoing process of diversification of the country's economy”, he highlighted
Quoted in the note, the Angolan diplomat also said that the tourism sector can play a significant role in the country's sustainable development agenda, creating jobs, distributing economic opportunities and improving the quality of life of communities.
Free Trade Zone improves continental tourism
On the other hand, Ambassador Francisco José da Cruz, who also presented a statement from the African Group to the United Nations headquarters, highlighted that the African Continental Free Trade Area (ACFTA) offers a unique opportunity to improve the role of tourism in continental integration, job creation and socio-economic development of the “cradle continent”.
This statement also highlights that, in 2022, the tourism sector had a significant impact in Africa, contributing 6% to its economy, in addition to supporting 22 million jobs and injecting 168 billion dollars into the Africa's Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
This contribution, the document advances, highlights the sector's vital role in the continent's economy which in 2023 attracted over 80 million international tourists, confirming its status as a top travel destination.
According to the African Group's statement, tourism in Africa transcends economic statistics, being a vibrant expression of the vast cultural heritage and diversity, celebrated across more than three thousand ethnic groups and languages across the continent.
It also considers tourism as a complex industry that requires strong international collaboration, as, in addition to generating economic benefits, tourism also plays a fundamental role in promoting global awareness and promoting peace.
During the month of April this year, Angola will chair the African Group, in New York.
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