Angola Sees 87% Tourism Surge as $100M Convention Centre Signals MICE Push
Angola recorded an 87.4% rise in international tourist arrivals in 2023, reaching 863,872 visitors and highlighting its emergence as a fast-growing African tourism destination. This growth was in the spotlight during the recent UN Tourism and ICAO Ministerial Conference in Luanda, where government officials revealed major infrastructure projects including a $100 million convention centre under construction in Chicala, Luanda. Scheduled for completion in 2026, the facility will feature an amphitheatre for 3,000 attendees, signalling Angola’s ambition to become a key player in southern Africa’s MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions) market.
Tourism Minister Márcio de Jesus Lopes Daniel used the event to showcase Angola’s unique offerings, from the Calandula Falls and Namibe Desert to the Giant Sable Antelope and Benguela’s beaches. Visa-free entry for 97 countries, a recently launched ‘Tourism Doing Business Guide’, and the adoption of the Luanda Declaration—calling for visa waivers and open skies across Africa—form part of a broader tourism strategy within the National Development Plan 2023-2027. With $667 million in tourism receipts and hotel occupancy up 9.2% in 2024, Angola’s investment-led approach is positioning the country for long-term sector growth and regional competitiveness.
Source: travelnews.africa