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Monday, 20 February 2017

Macaneta braces up to become regional benchmark tourism destination – Mozambique


RM / Marracuene Administrator, Avelino Muchine (left), Minister Silva Dunduru (centre) and João das Neves (right)

The Minister of Culture and Tourism, Silva Dunduro, is stressing the need to plan Macaneta locality as a major national tourist destination.

The construction of the bridge over the river Incomáti connecting Marracuene village to the beaches of Macaneta has given new impetus to the process of development of Macaneta township in Maputo province. New tourist developments are opening locally every day.

In order to oversee development, the Association of Economic Agents of Marracuene organized last Friday in Macaneta a seminar to discuss the Plan of Development and Sustainable and Harmonious Management of Macaneta’s Tourist Destination.

The Minister of Culture and Tourism, Silva Dunduro, the District Administrator of Marracuene, Avelino Muchine, the President of the Association of Economic Agents of Marracuene, João Das Neves, representative of MITADER, Lizy Matos, the secretary general of the Union of Hotels and Tourism Industry, Luis Macuácua, along with state officials, businesspeople, community leaders and other stakeholders attended.

Speaking at the opening of the seminar, Silva Dunduro stressed the need to invest in tourism as an engine of the country’s economic development fundamental in promoting the country’s sustainable development and the well-being of its communities.

President of the Association of Economic Agents of Marracuene, João das Neves, said that the Municipality of Macaneta offered enormous opportunities for tourism development that, if well-used, would contribute to the socio-economic growth and improvement of the living conditions of communities, but that speedy and good planning was essential.

“The district of Marracuene in general, and in particular the beaches of Macaneta, have the potential to become one of the most attractive tourist spots in the region, provided that correct plans are implemented right away,” das Neves said.

Das Neves stressed the need to harness and exploit existing resources in the locality in a harmonious and concerted way for the good of local communities and entrepreneurs.

Despite the optimism, there were challenges to be overcome, namely the absence of an urban development plan for the site, the need to define a public beach and create basic infrastructure, the need to improve access roads and the quality of electricity supply, address poor distribution of drinking water and better order the informal market.

In another development, the President of the Association of Economic Agents (AGEM), stated that there is an urgent need to plan the development of Macaneta and the type of business done there, along with who will do it and how, in order to avoid overloads in certain areas that may conflict with sustainable and harmonious development. João das Neves added that if care was not taken to properly manage the number visitors, there was a risk of damaging the very environment that currently attracts so many visitors, sending the future of Macaneta off down a dark and winding road.

As an example, Das Neves explained that there is no defined public beach for bathers and no public bathroom, although Macaneta is visited every weekend by thousands of people.

Suzana Cardoso, Director of District Services for Economic Activities, explained that the Macaneta has six neighborhoods, five schools, a health center and a police station. It has infrastructure built mostly with a combination of local and conventional material, and boasts 198 tourist rooms, 455 beds, six campsites and other tourist attractions.

At the end of the seminar, District Administrator Avelino Muthxini highlighted the importance of the event, reaffirming the government’s commitment to the sustainable development of Macaneta and its continuing willingness to work with economic stakeholders and local communities.
Source: Rádio Moçambique

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