Maputo — The Mozambican government is committed to developing sustainable tourism, in accordance with local capacities, and with a continual reduction in transaction costs, declared Tourism Minister Fernando Sumbana on Tuesday.

Sumbana was speaking in the southern city of Matola at a ceremony to mark World Tourism Day.

He said that currently about 33,000 people are employed in tourism activities of one sort or another in Mozambique. Accompanied by Environment Minister Luciano de Castro, Maputo provincial governor Telmina Pereira, and the Mayor of Matola, Carlos Tembe, Sumbana visited several tourist undertakings in the province, and considered that local tourist initiatives "are on the right path".

He praised the businesses that are creating more jobs by investing in the tourism sector, which he regarded as important for the fight against poverty.

But he called on the local authorities to play their role in creating the conditions within which tourism can flourish. "It's necessary that the provincial government continues to improve the conditions for tourism, particularly as regards access roads to tourist resorts, notably Ponta de Ouro (a beach resort near the border with the South African province of Kwazulu-Natal)", said Sumbana. "Tourism requires good quality transport". "We must continue developing infrastructures such as roads, and water supply and electricity networks, so that through tourism we can continue to expand employment", he urged.