ANGOLA IS YOUR TOURIST DESTINATION

 In this new era of Peace and Progress, the people of Angola wish to show and share this tropical paradise on the south-westem coast of Africa with its visitors. Rich in mineral, socioeconomic and cultural resources, Angola is one of the most promising tourist destinations.

This wonderful country, which someone referred to as "sui generis", has an enormous variety of complementary tourist attractions which meet the requirements of modern tourism.Along its 1,650 kilometres of coastline, there is an infinity of beaches which present the most indispensable conditions for bathers and for the practice of water sports.

TOURISM, CULTURE AND NATIONAL IDENTITY

Angola is a country with huge natural resources. To the innumerable potentialities with which the nature gifted our motherland, adds the propitious conditions for the practise of tourism, the industry of the third millennium that is more and more a reality.

In spite of yet be practised on a small scale, little by little, the tourism culture starts spreading among us, what is also due to the countless pushes given by different national organisms which in a combined way, work for the concretization of the goal that still in the past the most sceptic ones associated to a dream: To turn Angola into a touristy destination. 

With a peace perspective for the country that glimmers in a horizon, the premises for tourism to become a remarkable source of incomes will be gathered turning thus into factor of weight for the harmonious development of the country in different sectors. The protection and preservation of the Angolan rich culture as well as the safeguard of the traditional values viewing the strengthening of the national identity are not alien all this process.

Being culture one of the most expensive elements for the characterization and consequent identification of a people and- in a wider perspective – of a nation, a joint of mechanisms should be created that can view its defence against the corrosive aspects. All this, although the world tends to become a “global village” where the citizens live “connected”, at the extent of an African village shortly after taking place.

But as the reciprocal is not true, one of the consequences – that is fatal according to some critics – is the fact of citizens of African countries such as Angola use through the media, fully strange to their habits, customs and cultures. With the tourism fosterage and the sociability with people from other origins such assumption can put what is perfectly foreseeable.

That’s the other side of tourism because, effectively, tourists do not only leave sums susceptible of contributing for the growth of the economy of the destination country, they also leave something from them, from what they have as habits and customs.

In the meantime, what was mentioned above won’t be fatally a negative data (time), over all if the cited mechanisms of defence and preservation are created, which go for instance through the creation of a touristy guide who, among other guiding means, says what is usual in the country and dignity of its people. Besides, this is what happens not only in African countries, but in many others which have tourism as their potential source of incomes. On the other hand, the living together with people, putting aside the impositions resulting even from a major economic power may be an overall enriching experience. Tourism assumes itself as a doorway through which is disseminated the reality, habits and customs in short, culture. That’s why it is preconized the increase of spots where the potential tourists can find the reflection of what are the arts, the history or the particularities that identify the Angolan people and distinguish it from the rest.

In a rapid reflection, wouldn’t be wrong if one says that tourism is susceptible of embodying in the country of destination, practices which do not match with the local reality. In anyway, this risk may be cautioned by taking, besides the collection of funds, a dignifying picture of Angola consolidated in the dissemination of the beauty of the country, hospitality and sympathy of its people through the four corners of the world.

Definitively, the tourism carried out in Angola is a natural allied of the divulgation of the Angolan rich culture for the defence of the national identity.

ANGOLA OPENS TO THE MAIN ECONOMIC, COMMERCIALAND TOURISTIC CENTERS

The peace guarantees glimmering in our country turn it into an attraction of the main economic, commercial and touristy centers of the globalizing world. The mankind is living a change of era, marked by the phenomenon of globalization. We moved from the industrial society to the information one, the knowledge with rapines and depth unknown in the previous historical changes.

The technological revolution that comprises the biotechnology and the information in particular, is the driving forward factor of this historical process. With the globalization of the information, the economy, trade and the circulation of funds, new opportunity spaces open up, propitiating changing initiatives of extraordinary dimensions, as the embodiment of new countries and regions in the development and scientific progresses show.

With globalization, the concept of fosterage of the freedom of exchanges and the mobilization of the resources of touristy growth, will naturally register their activity of technical cooperation for the new countries which unlooked to the world tourism, their interventions in the ambit proper of the exchange’s liberalization ( in association with the World Trade Organization) and the mobilization of the resources of investment that should favour (in connection, above all with the UNDP, and the world bank, specially in benefit of the developing countries such as Angola.

The working visit of his Excellency the President of the Republic José Eduardo dos Santos to Japan and South Korea, the coming of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Germany leading an 80 members delegation, the businesspeople coming from the US, United Kingdom, France, Israel and other developed countries will allow the opening of Angola to the main economic, commercial and touristy centers of the world because, the economic, technical and scientific relaunching also drives forward the tourism growth of Angola. The movement of businesspeople to our country might serve as a push for a major knowing of Angola as a touristy destination well fitted in the computing era, as the main phenomenon of globalization and tourism is included.

The information and communication technology is rapidly converting into a vital strength of growth of the world tourism and will enable the wider opening for the sending of tourists from the world tourism top market’s senders. Angola will welcome many of these tourists who seek new destinations and linked to nature, exactly what our beautiful country holds.
 

WHY ANGOLA?/TOURISM

Angola is a giant jigsaw puzzle of different climates, landscapes, cultures and colors. From mountains to vast open plains, wide white beaches to thick tropical rainforest, Angola has it all, as if each of its eighteen provinces were a different country. Lubango has a mild temperature climate, Luanda is hot and dry, while Cabinda is steamy and tropical.

Much of the landscape is dramatic, with plunging waterfalls, bizarre rock formations and deep gorges. Leba Mountain in Huila province rises out of Tundavala gorge to give stunning views of the vast Namibe desert. Roaring rivers snake across the country, cascading down rock faces at places like the Calendula waterfalls in the province of Malange.“We have incredible rivers, waterfalls and game parks. Angola could become an ideal tourist destination, especially for those interested I eco-tourism, “ says Tourism Minister Jorge Valentim.

Despite Angola’s potential, it suffers from a chronic lack of infrastructure required for tourism. Decades of civil war have destroyed most of the country’s roads and bridges, and the only safe way to travel is by air. However, with Angola now facing the real prospect of peace, new horizons are opening up. For instance, the remains of a motor racing track that was used for MIG fighter jets, is now being rehabilitated for racing. In recent years, an increasing number of foreigners have been visiting Angola. According to government figures, the revenue generated by foreign visits to Angola in 2001 reached $ 25 million.

However, the authorities have to battle against the attitude of some Angolans to foreign visitors. “The long war has made people nervous and insecure. That’s why they don’t like people taking photographs. The government has to teach people to act differently now because times are changing. We have to promote a new and positive image of Angola, “says Jorge Valentim. If Angola is to become a more attractive tourist destination, a lot of work will have to be done to improve its numerous national parks. Wildlife stocks have been drastically depleted by poaching and war.          

Animals
In the past there were more but there are still many, from the elephant to the rare giant Palanca.

Tropical Climate Beach during all the year. Colder alternatives in the interior (altitude )

Crafts Work Souvenirs of ivory, wood, ceramics and metal of great beauty and originality. Painting is very developed.



 

Sunset It is undoubtedly the best show Nature offer to us.

Variety of Experiences The evolution of Angola is very specific that originates situations, behaviours and an atmosphere rather unusual.

Sports Few structures. Great potential for hunting and fishing; scuba diving; water sports in general; horse-riding: target practice and sky-diving; golf.

Gastronomy Good fish, good meat, good shellfish, strong spices, many culinary specialities and competent cookers result in one of the best gastronomies of Africa.

By Night Great tradition in night life. With everything coming to normal, there are already in Luanda fun places of good quality and strong identity.

A TOURIST REGION

A bit further, we reach the mystical Kwanza where the river gets to the sea – it is easy to get and good for pictures and fishing. It has a restaurant and some bungalows. One can fish the biggest species of swordfish and “dourada” (golden fish).

Beyond the river, we get to the region of Quissama where a National Park is situated and once famous for its animals, from the big ones (elephants, buffalos, lions) to the little ones (birds and rodents). And by the sea, the beautiful and solitary Cabo Ledo.

Still around Luanda to the East, there is the industrial centre of Viana today surrounded by farms that produce the great majority of fruit and greens for Luanda’s consume. These farms are very good to rest and they even have variety of restaurants and discos. A few km to North of the city, there is the fishing village Cacuaco with its salt beds. It is an area with a specific landscape till the river Bengo.

Next to the top of Kifangondo there is a wonderful sight of Lakes – affluent formed by the Bengo and where Luanda gets its water. It goes till Funda – a lagoon where one can taste the famous “cacussos” (a river fish) – a traditional dish for the Caluanda, served with beans and palm oil.
 

RURAL TOURISM IN ANGOLA

Tourism in Angola is mainly characterized by an intimate reception and allows a more direct contact with the nature, the populations, their habits and customs. The tourists may have at their disposal personalized services and enjoy a wide natural and cultural heritage.

The agro-tourism is practised in dwelling houses witch are part of an agricultural quarter where tourists can, if they wish, participate in agricultural works proper of the quarter.

Rural tourism is a kind of tourism that has to do with rustic dwellings particular of the rural area in witch they are set, situated within an agglomerated crowd or nearby.

Nowadays, rural tourism is a solution for employment, local development and environment.

Rural tourism has registered an expressive development in the last years, resulting from the excesses of urbanization of many coastline areas and its corresponding congestion, making tourists tend more for nature.

Rural tourism is defined, in global economy of tourism, as a touristy valorisation of the rustic spaces, the natural resources, the cultural patrimony, the rural joint, the traditions of the villages and the products of the land, the illustrative products of the regional entities, covering the needs of the consumers in lodging, restoring, leisure activities, liveliness and several services with the purpose of a lasting local development in adequate response to the needs of leisure in the modern society in a new city-camp social solidarity.

The touristy development of a rural region is built from the touristy utilization of the natural resources and the local cultures. In other words, rural tourism leans on the space, involving an active participation of the local populations at the reception of the tourists and on the offer of the products. Rural tourism is made up of a fundamental trio: Space – Human Being – Product.

A space without mankind cannot welcome tourists with vivacity and without products can not respond the joint expectations of the touristy consumers.

Human beings without space or products are not able to receive tourists. The products without assistance neither over the space, nor the mankind have an ephemeral life, as they are not able to make up the local development.

This equation imposes that rural tourism should be characterized by a plurality of operators, a diversity of products of a wide list of customers.

Rural Tourism can be considered close to a social tourism intended primarily to familiar customers, for a leisure time corresponding to the annual holiday’s period.

Two issues should be taken into account in all this project of the rural development of a rural zone:

On one hand, a minimum threshold, of vitality on the zone, a concern of which the alive forces will be spinnable so that rural tourism be used for the economic relaunching and reanimation of social life;

On the other hand, a threshold of touristy frequentation can not become too strong, in a way to avoid the degradation for saturation of the natural and cultural spots, the loss of the services rendered, for an overmuch touristy using up a feeling of rural dispossessing in the life’s frame.

Rural tourism is integrating in the issue of the lasting development contributing concretely for the safeguard of the rural, natural and cultural patrimony. We can quote as examples the positive results of projects of touristy growth comprising the sustenance of the paths and by-paths of the circuit ( clean up liners of the rivers, riddance of the sources and brooks, reconstruction of the old spots, and management of the footbridges and picnic spots, courses and the posts of discovery and observation of the fauna and flora, the reconstruction of the landscapes, the consolidation of the terraces on grounds of the slope, reforest the forestall spaces, etc…) or the relaunching of culture of local varieties of plants and fruits, the promotion of the product and incomes of the terrain, the waking up of the old manual professions, the rehabilitation of rural houses of stone or on raw land covered with straw, the restoring of the vernacular patrimony, the memorization of the tales and legends, local animation from the festive and folkloric traditions, etc.

Angola is an agricultural country and most of the population is of agricultural origin, but due to the increase of the cities urbanization, the search of better jobs and, in the last resource, the war left our agricultural rich areas in almost total abandonment.

All this situation made many of us, born in the farms, lose the original habits and customs. Worst is the fact that our children don’t, actually, even know their real rural origin.

With the rural touristy development we can come back to the direct contact with the nature, the populations, habits and customs.

The war devastating our country hinders the development of the whole country , but there are farms in the outskirts of Cabinda, Bengo, Luanda, Kwanza-Sul, Benguela and Huila able to give the first start, beginning with the internal tourism.

For this purpose it requires the holding of a survey of the existing farms and lands, studying their conditions, sensitizing their owners (whereas most of them are private) with the goal of turning touristy destinations and profit them for the improvement of their services. Besides, the small farmers will be able to participate in projects of rural tourism where their collaboration should be effective. It should also be taken into account the social side of the people of the land, the education, health and avoid the environmental degradation of the spaces, always hearing their pieces of advice and the ways to protect the surrounding environment.

Rural tourism in Angola is a theme to be carefully studied, so that it becomes a type of tourism to be developed, making the good use of the contribution of the women in the agricultural works and in the rural economy that is higher than the men’s. This contribution can reach two-thirds of the time of agricultural work carried out in the joint of the familiar production. Woman produce over 70% of the food agricultural products, assure 100% of the transformation of the basic products and 60-90% of the commercialization.

As we can see, the Angolan rural woman may play an important role in the development of the real tourism, as she produces the majority of the agricultural food that might be used up by the tourists.

Thus, it is necessary to enable the farmer woman’s access the factors and means of production, such as the land’s ownership, the credit and improved technologies.

All this will also hinder on her training, so that she can dominate all these knowledge’s and better understand that the development of the rural tourism will make possible the employment, profit and the improvement of the social conditions health, education and recreation and the environmental protection.

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