Angola’s Bold Leap: New Infrastructure and Regional Collaboration Set to Transform African Tourism

Angola is rapidly emerging as a beacon of promise in Africa’s tourism landscape, leveraging the spotlight of the recent 2nd UN Tourism and ICAO Ministerial Conference on Tourism and Air Transport in Africa to showcase its ambitious vision and concrete progress. The high-profile event, held on July 22 in Luanda, gathered African Ministers of Tourism and Transport alongside international aviation and tourism leaders to strategize on boosting air connectivity, enhancing regional mobility, and driving tourism-led economic growth across the continent.

At the conference’s opening, Angola’s Minister of Tourism, Márcio de Jesus Lopes Daniel, painted a vivid picture of the country’s extraordinary natural and cultural wealth. He invited attendees to experience the crystal-clear rivers feeding the Okavango Delta, the ancient Namibe Desert, the breathtaking Calandula Falls—the second largest waterfall in Africa, and the rare Giant Sable Antelope, a species unique to Angola. The tropical Mayombe forest in Cabinda and the golden beaches and cliffs of Benguela and Namibe further enrich the country’s diverse appeal. Yet, beyond these wonders, Daniel emphasized Angola’s greatest asset: the warmth and hospitality of its people, vibrant culture, and the infectious rhythms of kizomba and kuduro music, inviting all to “feel at home.”

This cultural and natural allure is being matched by a determined push to upgrade Angola’s tourism infrastructure and investment climate. A flagship project is the construction of a new international convention centre in Luanda, designed to host large-scale conferences and business tourism events. This \$100 million facility, set to open in 2026, will position Luanda as a key hub for meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE) in the region, signaling Angola’s intent to diversify its tourism offerings beyond leisure travel.

In tandem with infrastructure development, Angola is deepening its partnership with the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) to enhance destination readiness. Collaborative efforts include the creation of a Tourism Doing Business Guide aimed at simplifying investment procedures, the formulation of a national Sustainable Tourism Plan, and the strengthening of systems for tourism statistics and marketing. Minister Daniel highlighted the swift progress made in under a year, praising the joint commitment that led to the hosting of the ministerial conference, the signing of key agreements, and technical assistance initiatives to boost marketing and data capabilities.

However, the Minister did not shy away from addressing persistent challenges that hamper travel to Angola and the continent at large. Delegates faced long layovers, multiple flight connections, and visa hurdles—issues symptomatic of broader systemic barriers. Daniel called for urgent reforms, stressing that these obstacles must not continue to burden African citizens in their everyday lives. The Luanda Declaration, adopted during the conference, embodies this call to action, advocating for visa waivers and open skies agreements to facilitate smoother, more affordable travel across African nations.

“Bureaucracy in border control and the operational costs of the air transport market reduce our countries’ competitive agility,” Daniel noted, underscoring how these factors delay the collective ambition of transforming Africa into a sustainable and globally competitive tourism destination. The conference’s outcomes align closely with Angola’s strategic goals, reinforcing the need for regional collaboration to unlock the continent’s full tourism potential.

In a heartfelt tribute, the Minister acknowledged the outgoing UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili for his impactful tenure, particularly his dedication to Africa’s tourism agenda. “Zurab, my friend, a friend of Angola, a friend of Africa and Africans… You put Africa on the map,” Daniel said, recognizing Pololikashvili’s role in elevating the continent’s profile on the global stage.

Looking ahead, Angola is anchoring its tourism development in a vision that blends regional cooperation, sustainable growth, and infrastructure modernization. The country’s unique blend of natural wonders, endemic wildlife, rich cultural heritage, and vibrant music scenes is being complemented by strategic investments that promise to reshape its tourism narrative. As Minister Daniel aptly summarized, Angola’s message to Africa and the world is one of unity and shared purpose: “Together and all for tourism.”