Maputo, Mozambique — Mozambican Prime Minister Pascoal Mocumbi has proposed regional partnerships as the only viable option for a rational use of scarce human and financial resources in the development of ecotourism in African countries.

Speaking at a regional seminar on "Planning, Development and Management of Ecotourism in Africa," Mocumbi said that the best way to achieve this was to create cross border investment regions.

He also advocated the coordination of action between countries involved in the promotion of such investment projects, and to promote ecologically sustainable development involving local communities.

He said that the Mozambican government was already carrying a number of projects within that perspective.

He mentioned among such partnerships the Libombos Spatial Development Initiative involving Mozambique, South Africa and Swaziland along borders shared by the three countries. Reference was also made to the Gaza-Kruger-Gonarezhou trans- border part between Mozambique, South Africa and Zimbabwe, and the Triangle Development between Mozambique, Zambia and Malawi.

Mocumbi also noted other tourism development initiatives in the country, such as the revitalisation of the Gorongosa and Niassa National Parks.

Concerning the involvement of local communities, he cited the "Tchuma-Tchato" (Our Wealth) programme, in Tete province, where the local community manages natural resources. Also cited was community participation in ecotourism activities in the Bazaruto archipelago, off the coast of Inhambane province.

Mocumbi alluded to a report by the World Tourism Organisation, which noted that African tourism grew by 6.6 per cent between 1990 and 1998. Mozambique's grew by 18.2 per cent in the same period. Overall, though, Africa's share of tourism at the world market registered a decrease.

This seminar in Maputo was the first in a series planned various countries, and to run until the end of 2002, declared by the United Nations as the International Year of Ecotourism.

The Maputo forum was attended by delegations from 30 African countries.