Maputo — The Mozambican Tourism Ministry launched in Maputo on Wednesday, the "Welcome to Mozambique" campaign for the coming festive season as a means to create a more welcoming environment for tourists.

Speaking at the launch ceremony, Tourism Minister Fernando Sumbana explained that another objective of the campaign is to display the potential scale of tourism in Mozambique as one of the most valuable treasures of the country, and one that generates jobs and contributes to the country's balance of payments.

"Promoting and publicising Mozambique as an important tourist destination is another objective of the campaign", he said, adding that "all that we do and what we say or write should work towards the noble objective of defending the good name of Mozambique".

He warned that tourists coming to Mozambique should never be harassed, and it is the task of all, particularly the Tourism and Interior Ministries, to work together to guarantee comfort, safety and tranquility to all tourists.

The message against harassment was clearly aimed at the traffic police, who have a notorious reputation for corruption, and for extorting bribes, particularly from motorists who do not speak Portuguese

"For this campaign to be successful we count on the participation of everybody, including civil servants, public companies, artists, the makers of public opinion, managers and workers in the private sector, operators in the informal sector, transport operators, the police, and even ordinary citizens", said Sumbana.

South African tourists cross the border in large numbers during the Xmas and New Year period, mostly heading for the beach resorts of Gaza and Inhambane provinces.