Tourism is by far one of the biggest pillars of development for any country. Besides contributing to the eradication of poverty and to the Gross Domestic Product, it favors the enrichment of their histories, arts, and cultures. However, there are countries in which its tourist potential is unquestionable, as is the case of Mozambique. Its favorable geography and climate almost make it one of the best tourist destinations in the world.

Despite its immeasurable magnitudes, the tourism sector, like so many others, was devastated and almost collapsed due to the covid-19 pandemic. But now, the biggest question is what will be the "game of waist" for the sector and its entire value chain to stand firm in the face of the uncertainty of a definitive resumption of activities. And, in particular, how Mozambique will deal with the oscillation of tightening and easing of restrictions.

In this regard, MZNews spoke with Yassin Amuji, entrepreneur, President of the Vilankulo Tourism Association and recently appointed Vice-president of the Hospitality, Tourism, and Catering Sector at CTA - Confederation of Business Associations of Mozambique.

Yassin's ideas emanate from a futuristic vision, where both the state, the private sector, and communities cooperate for a future free of monstrous economic inequalities.

Mozambique is favored by its history, culture, and geographical location. Considering this, what is the tourism potential of the country? 

Mozambique has an enormous tourist potential, probably unique in the world. Its geographic and climatic conditions, with about 2800 km of coastline, favor it to be one of the best destinations in the world at almost any time of the year. The first reason that washes most people (60%) to go sightseeing in the world is sun and beach, and this is not lacking in the country. Allied to this, there are different types of histories in the country, each with their own peculiar cultures and attractions that people may wish to experience. We as a nation must know how to capitalize on all this. And, in fairness, every province in the country has a particularity that the world needs to know. And this is tourism: it is selling, exporting, internationalizing our culture, our tradition, and our history.

How can the State intervene for the population to benefit from the opportunities existing in the sector?

The state must create policies for circular tourism. We are a nation under construction and, of course, we have our deficits in information, experience, education, and this is why the state must accelerate the process of education in entrepreneurship, at the level of private initiatives and self-employment. In an accelerated way, we must promote an education that creates solutions and not that seeks employment. Only then will we have a people who will really benefit from the opportunities offered by tourism in its vast value chain. This can be done through lectures and events in which we demonstrate the opportunities that tourism has for the communities. This role is not only the state's, it is the private sector's as well.

There is widespread thinking about the cost to Mozambicans of enjoying tourism. What is your analysis.  

People don't need a lot of money, and this mentality of consumerism must be changed. When will tourism stop being expensive? When we can afford it. When? When we know how to enter the value chain of 'expensive tourism'. Right now, hotels are expensive because our living conditions are low, and we can't wait for them to reduce prices to match our living conditions because then they, and the country in general, will go bankrupt.

The truth is that people's financial power is different. How, from now on, can a citizen with few resources do tourism?

Tourism is for everyone, and there are many types: sun and beach, safari, cruise, marine science, camping, etc. What happens is that low-cost hotels don't advertise their services and expect people to knock on their doors. On the contrary, high-end hotels always invest in marketing strategies, and then it is assumed that tourism is expensive, but it is not. What exists is a differentiated concept of service provision that is then reflected in the price list. I see this as an opportunity and not a blockage. If it is expensive, someone should create an affordable package and here is an investment opportunity.

How can different investors earn at the same rate according to their service level?

But for everyone to win, it is necessary to design a strategic plan that defines where to segment each type of tourism, avoiding conflicts between them. We can't mix the different segments in the same strategic point, otherwise we will be left with nothing.

The tourism sector was among the most devastated by the Covid-19 pandemic. How can it continue to function amidst the chaos?

The pandemic changed the course of things. There was a differentiation of services to be able to accommodate the pandemic season. For example, the reduction in prices led to the cutting of certain services and also of staff. However, we need to realize that the pandemic will last for a few years. Ideally, we should view the covid as a normal flu so that we can let the economy flow normally. The instability of the decrees to contain the pandemic makes the economies fluctuate. The investor understands that the beaches are open and while he is getting the reservations for the next month the beaches close, and he has to return the money from the reservations, which has already been directed to prepare the reception of the tourists, and what do you do when the tourists say they will no longer come and want their money refunded? Where do you find the money for the refund? All this creates a setback for the investor and causes losses for the business community. All the damage to the business community reflects on the entire value chain of the national economy. So we need to think quickly about how we are going to stabilize the pandemic prevention measures. There are countries that are already taking on covid-19 as a normal flu, opening up the economy and letting each citizen be responsible for themselves.

Mozambique cannot be the last and expect others to make the decision for it. In our country there are people with enough discernment to lead the fight against the pandemic and to be an example to the world. Of course we may suffer some reprisals from the international community, but by proving that we are right, then we begin to conquer our position.

Now the tourism sector is practically off-limits. Would opening the sector to vaccinated foreigners be a solution, along the lines of what you said earlier?

Mozambique could, since the start of vaccination in Europe, open up to everyone who has already been vaccinated without the need to take the Covid test, just like Cape Verde and the United Arab Emirates. The measure to be implemented here would be to vaccinate hotel workers and send a message to the world, showing that in hotels and other tourist establishments in the country only vaccinated people circulate and that only those who have already been vaccinated could visit Mozambique. This would be an opportunity to position Mozambique as a leading country in tourism in the world.

What are the benefits that tourism can bring to the country?

It is very difficult to calculate the benefit that tourism brings to the economy, because it has an uncontrollable value chain. There are countries that live off tourism and have most of their GDP captured from tourism revenues. Mozambique's bet for fighting poverty is tourism, and with this we would eradicate poverty in less than ten years. For example, the United Arab Emirates realized that the resources they have, oil and gas, are finite, and so they invested in tourism, and today they are one of the most visited destinations in the world.

How do you get that tourism machine to work and generate revenue?

The first aspect for tourism to work is accessibility and mobility: it should not be more expensive to take an interprovincial trip than an international one, but that is the reality. We often miss opportunities that are out in the world because of the protectionism we have adopted for our public companies, which can be detrimental to the economy. The state will only collect revenue if there is competition. And if there is only one company for each type of service, creating that accessibility is going to take even longer.

Recently the Bazaruto Archipelago was distinguished by the luxury travel magazine "Condé Nast Traveller" as the Best Island Resort in Africa and the Indian Ocean. What does this mean for the country?

These distinctions are not new today. They have been happening for more than ten years, namely for Vilankulo and the Bazaruto Archipelago. Last year Vilankulo was elected as one of the Best Tourist Destinations in Africa. In that region there are more than ten hotels that are on the top 10% list of the best hotels in the world, and there is one hotel that is on the top 1% list of the best hotels in the world and it is the best Bread and Break Fast in Africa. So, when they say that we are the best we should, very quickly, open up the country more so that other tourists can come and leave money here. The world already knows and recognizes it, but it is necessary that we also know and recognize our potential, with concrete actions, because otherwise it will be worthless having what we have.

This year you became Vice-President of the Hospitality, Tourism and Catering Division of the CTA - Confederation of Business Associations of Mozambique. What work has been entrusted to you?

CTA is working with the government to create better policies for the hotel industry. We have been dealing with the provincial associations and other associations from other tourist destinations. There is a matrix of various problems that the industry has. We are working to identify a new matrix of existing problems in the industry because the industry is always changing, although some problems have already been solved. For example, in 2019 the tourism visa was approved, which used to be done in the embassies, but today it is already possible to get it at the airport. We are trying to create accessibility for tourism, but this must come with mobility.

What is your advice to the Mozambican youth to emancipate themselves?

Young people have to become self-educated. Those who have studied think they don't need to learn anymore, but knowledge evolves/changes every day. And if we don't continue to study, in two years we will be outdated, especially in terms of technology, and so we must constantly update ourselves to quickly adapt to the changes. On the other hand, young people should make the best use of digital platforms to learn. Each young Mozambican must know how to filter what he wants for himself and disconnect from everything that is distracting him from his focus, which is to produce.

If we continue to learn every day automatically we will begin to see opportunities where we didn't even think they existed.