Set for take-off!
HURRICANE Dino in 2016
was perhaps the ideal
metaphor for the perfect
storm that hit the Mozambican
economy following the
accession of President Felipe
Nyusi nearly three years ago.
From being the fastest growing
and most optimistic in the
world, the economy collapsed.
The agricultural sector
was hit by El Niño and the
anticipated capital investment
from the development of the
Rovuma Basin gas reserves
was delayed after the plunge
in energy prices. The coal
price fell to record lows and
smouldering conflict between
Frelimo and Renamo on the
vital North-South highway
forced some tourists to travel
in armed convoys. Finally,
a secret $2bn (R26bn)
government debt was exposed,
crushing investor confidence.
Corporate business that
had sustained the boom in
hotel business in Maputo for
seven years collapsed almost
overnight. Inflation rocketed
to 25% pa, and the metical
almost halved in value.
In the leisure sector,
occupancy levels, already
suffering from reputational
fear from the armed conflict
and high costs, plummeted;
then the tourism Mecca of
Tofo/Inhambane was hit by
Hurricane Dino last year, which
flattened facilities.
In addition, the South
African overland market
was affected for a year by
roadworks between Nelspruit
and Maputo, and unfavourable
exchange rates, high airfares
and social media reports of
police harassment of visitors
did their damage. Many lodges
dived to unprecedented zero
occupancy levels.
Now in mid-2017 all
evidence suggests that the
thaw has finally come and
spring is in the air once again.
In Maputo, stakeholders
interviewed by TNW were
upbeat about the future,
reporting double-digit growth in
both enquiries and occupancy.
Recently completed
infrastructure in terms of new
hotels, motorways, airports,
bridges, conferencing, airlift
and visa simplification is all in
readiness for the anticipated
surge in business and leisure
visitor volumes.
Vasco Manhiça, president
of the Hotels Association of
Southern Mozambique, says:
“It is no secret that the past
two years have been very
difficult for Mozambique. In
some months 40% occupancy
among our members would
have been a result to be
proud of.” This comes from an
association where
occupancy levels
of 80-90% were
considered the
norm only a few
years previously.
Now, he notes a
broad upswing
in occupancy of
more than 20%
this year across
the market and
expects better to
come.
Although
the effect
of the newly
implemented
visa regulations –
which now allow
visitors from any
country (whether
or not they have
a Mozambique
consulate) to
obtain a doubleentry
visa at any point of entry
into the country – has yet to
be felt, he hopes that they will
boost the MICE ambitions of
Maputo in particular. Returning
from the recent Retosa
conference in South Africa, he
says there is still optimism
for the introduction of a SADC
uniform visa in the near future.
Vasco hopes that “the
opening of the MaputoKatembe
suspension bridge
– billed as the largest in Africa
– at the end of
this year will
be a complete
game-changer,
stimulating
leisure and
business traffic
from KZN and
Swaziland,
enabling transborder
events
and activities and
bringing Durban
to just a few
hours’ drive from
Maputo”.
Thobi Duma,
country manager
Mozambique of
SAA, agrees. “We
are experiencing
more and
more full
flights between
Maputo and
Johannesburg
and have supported the
route by introducing a new
special fare of R3 130 return,
including taxes (G class). We
are expecting strong growth
from the route during the
latter part of this year.” SAA
operates three flights a day
between Johannesburg and
Maputo.
Airlift reliability, licensing
and cost have been key to
this turnaround. During 2017,
LAM, the national carrier, was
re-awarded its overflying rights
to the EU.
Having built completely
new state-of-the-art airports
in Maputo, Nampula and
Vilanculos over the past
four years, Mozambique’s
Ministry of Transport and
Communications says the
country will conclude the
process of certificating
the international airports
in Maputo, Beira and
Nampula this year to comply
with international civil
aviation rules, confirmed
Minister of Transport and
Communications, Carlos
Mesquita.
In August, the Mozambican
Civil Aviation Institute issued a
tender open to all airlines on
all domestic routes. President
João de Abreu said LAM, MEX,
Ethiopian Airlines, Malawi
Airlines and other entities had
expressed interest.
SA Airlink has also shown
confidence in leisure and
business destinations,
increasing its service to
Vilanculos from both OR
Tambo and Nelspruit from
three times a week to daily.
Airlink also flies direct to
Tete, Pemba and the newly
built Nampula International
Airport, anticipating the
international corporate
business upturn.
Business hotel confident
THE Tsogo Sun Group is set
to become the biggest hotel
investor in Mozambique this
coming year.
This follows the extension
and upscaling of its flagship
Southern Sun Maputo in
2014 to 269 rooms, the
opening of Tete Ferry Sun
in May (143 rooms), and
the scheduled opening of
StayEasy Maputo (125
rooms) first quarter of
2018.
Bruce Chapman, general
manager of Southern Sun
Maputo says: “We have
great confidence in the
Mozambican economy
returning to strong growth
not only in the corporate
sector driven by the
extractive industries and
associated logistics, but
also from the leisure
market where our arts,
music, heritage and cuisine
augment the uniquely
pristine 2 600km of pristine
coastline.”
Maputo for Mice
THIS year has been our
busiest ever in terms of
both enquiries and bookings
with renewed strong growth
in corporate travel,” says
Natalie Tenzer Silva, md of
Dana Tours. “Whilst Maputo
remains the centre for MICE
business, regional cities
such as Pemba, Quelimane,
Inhambane and Tete have
also demonstrated strong
upswings in corporate travel
and we are experiencing a
resumption in interest from
the voluntourism market,
which is attracted to the
safety and beauty of this
fast-developing nation.”
MICE and corporate
travel remain the keystone
to Mozambican tourism
and the country has
invested hundreds of
millions of dollars in new
infrastructure; new airports,
roads, bridges and fourand
five-star bednights to
attract a growing number
of conferences and
international meetings.
“We are now in a position
to attract conferences of
2 000-3 000 delegates
comfortably,” Natalie
comments. “The beauty
of Maputo is its compact
size, and our new ‘MICEZone’
around the Joachim
Chissano International
Convention Centre means
we have 1 000 four- and
five-star beds adjacent to
the conference centre and
a further 2 000 within 15
minutes’ transfer time.”
This suits the logistics of
organisers very well. In
addition, the adjacent hotels
boast plentiful satellite
halls, symposium rooms
and meeting rooms as well
as banqueting facilities,
enhancing flexibility.
Liane Venter, director
of Africa Stay, comments:
“Last year’s Iata un-banning
of the national airline LAM
was a considerable boon
for corporate travel, which
has suffered since the oil
price slump two years ago.
Within MICE, the incentives
business is looking very
promising now.”
In addition to the
conferencing facilities in
Maputo she notes that new
five-star, all-inclusive coastal
resorts such as Anantara
Bazaruto and Plan Hotel’s
Diamonds Mequfi Resort
near Pemba make incentive
packages much easier to
market to groups of up to
50 people.
Liane says deep-sea
sport fishing, for example
on the Lazarus Banks near
the Quirimbas Archipelago,
and diving off Tofo and
Vilanculos, are what set
Mozambique apart, giving it
a globally superior offering.
“Medjumbe in the Quirimbas
has to be the best example
of barefoot luxury I have
ever experienced.”
She says logistics
in Mozambique are
challenging, especially in
terms of internal air links,
and recommends using local
operators familiar with the
systems and timetables to
smooth itineraries and effect
timely payments.
Secluded beaches and excellent diving
LAURA Parry, md of
Mozambique GSA, believes
people are unfamiliar
with Mozambique’s full
offering. “Everyone has
heard of Ponta do Oura,
Inhambane/Tofo, and maybe
the Bazaruto Islands. But
Mozambique actually has
a whole lot more to offer,”
she says, referring in
particular to islands in the
Quirimbas Archipelago that
are incredibly beautiful and
unspoilt.
“Unfortunately, the
perception is that, because
Mozambique is on our
doorstep, prices for flights
and accommodation should
be cheap. What is forgotten
is that the experience is
something quite unique! The
best of Mozambique is about
secluded, pristine beaches
and aquamarine sea, with
excellent diving, snorkelling
and really getting back to
nature – without the crowds.
There is naturally a price to
pay for this experience.”
Not many South Africans
think to travel to the more
northern areas, like Ilha de
Moçambique in Nampula
Province, the original capital
of the country and a Unesco
World Heritage Site. This
tiny little island is just
three kilometres long and
500m wide, with a 3km-long
bridge connecting it to the
mainland. It has museums
and forts and cobbled
streets with tiny restaurants
and accommodation options.
One of the newer offerings
is Coral Lodge, now under
new ownership and just
a 30-minute transfer by
motorised dhow from Ilha de
Moçambique.
Also in Nampula is
Ossimba Beach Lodge, an
eco-resort run totally on
solar power.
“Of course, we still offer
all the top island resorts
in the Bazaruto area as
well. This area remains
very popular. The town of
Vilankulo is also thriving;
there are now quite a few
tuk-tuks to ferry tourists
around to the market or to
lunch at different resorts
or restaurants in the area,”
says Laura.
Pomene now on MSC routes
THE 2017/18 season
sees MSC Cruises’ new
Mozambique destination,
Pomene Bay, being added
to the itinerary, where the
company has invested in
Pomene Bay Lodge.
This tranquil and idyllic
location is in a remote and,
as yet, undeveloped part
of Mozambique. The white
sandy beaches and estuary
provide relaxation points
with many fun activities
arranged around both areas.
“The developments on
Pomene Bay will mirror
the sublime offerings that
guests experience on
board as well as taking
into consideration the
considerable natural beauty
that Pomene has to offer,”
says Ingrid Roding-Tudor,
marketing manager of MSC
Cruises.
The lodge’s existing
restaurant, bar, and sunset
pool will be upgraded and
extended, while additions
will include bars and
restaurant dining decks,
plus a spa for ultimate
relaxation.
Ingrid says there has been
substantial investment
over the last four years to
enhance guest experiences.
These include a buffet area;
kiddies’ and fun zones;
additional shore excursions
such as snorkelling at
Santa Maria; an exclusive
beach lounge for guests
who want to be away from
the crowds, with sun beds,
umbrellas, and a dedicated
bar service; and extra
shading on the beach.
With the island a nature
reserve, MSC has ensured
that all development is
in line with strict eco
guidelines.
Manta rays, year round
MOZAMBIQUE is one of
few places on the planet
where you can dive with
manta rays and whale
sharks all year around,
says Carlos Macuacua of
MozPlunge Diving tours,
which offers PADI training
and underwater filming.
“What makes
Mozambique the perfect
diving destination is the
combination of friendly
people, good food, long
coastline with beautiful
sandy beaches and an
abundance of underwater
inhabitants such as manta
rays, whale sharks, marine
turtles, stingrays, dolphins,
and many different species
of sharks and game fish,”
he says.
“The marine reserves
established in Mozambique
and conservation activities
that are carried on by
several local organisations
and NGOs, help to attract
more tourists to come and
explore the Mozambique.
To the point
SAA’s Via lounge in Maputo, its first outside South Africa, is a joint venture
with Barclays Bank. The newly refurbished lounge offers free entry to
business class, Voyager Platinum and Silver card holders, while other SAA
passengers pay US$29,60 (R380). Light food is available and there are
charging points for laptops and phones, plus free WiFi.
