Luanda – Angolan minister of Culture and Tourism Filipe Zau highlighted Friday, in Havana, Cuba, the role of tourism in fulfilling the objectives of sustainable development, as well as from a social, economic and environmental point of view.
According to the minister, who was speaking at the G77 + China meeting, the ecological dimension of sustainable tourism and actions aimed at reducing the adverse impacts of tourism activity.
He also mentioned the pressure over the environment, concerns linked to climate change, environmental pollution and the loss of biodiversity.
"Today, tourism is called upon to play an important role in meeting the objectives of sustainable development, within the horizon of 2030, both from a social, economic and environmental point of view", he underlined.
The actors of tourist activity, he said, whether from the public sector, business or non-governmental organizations, are called upon to undertake their activity in increasingly responsible ways, with a view to enjoying tourist resources without compromising the transfer of cultural heritage and natural assets for future generations.
According to the minister, the Angolan Executive has been committed to developing policies aimed at tourism that fit into a context of sustainability.
"We are part of the largest cross-border area of environmental conservation in the world that involves five countries, namely Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe, a project called Okavango Zambenze", he informed.
He explained that the region is the Angolan part, mostly historical of Cuando Cubango province, where Angolans and Cubans shed their blood in the fight against the racist South African Apartheid regime, and for the release of Nelson Mandela.
Felipe Zau added that, from an international point of view, Angola is a member of the Tourism and Sustainability Committee of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and holds the rotating Vice-President of this body, until next year.
This year, World Tourism Day is celebrated under the motto “Tourism and Green Investments”, as another opportunity to mobilize efforts in favour of ecotourism, thus contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.
