Authorities in Mozambique have announced an agreement with South Africa’s Singita Group, which specializes in luxury tourism and travel, to invest more than $100 million in tourism projects on Santa Carolina Island and the neighboring island in the Bazaruto Archipelago, in the Indian Ocean.
Santa Carolina Island, which became famous worldwide after hosting the reality TV show “Survivor,” remained neglected for decades, as the authorities did not invest in its natural assets of white beaches and turquoise waters.
The island’s only hotel has been reduced to ruins, making it an example of missed opportunities in the tourism sector.
But this reality appears to be changing, as Singita plans to invest about $60 million in building a luxury resort with a capacity of up to 60 beds, in addition to another $42 million to develop tourism projects in the nearby Bazaruto Archipelago.
Tourism in the face of security challenges
The new projects are located far from northeastern Mozambique, where armed groups linked to the Islamic State are active .
Observers believe that this geographical distance may protect investments from the repercussions of the violence plaguing those regions.
The announcement coincided with a series of government measures aimed at attracting foreign investment in the tourism sector, including granting ten-year residency visas to investors who inject $5 million or more, in addition to facilitating travel permits.
Analysts believe that Maputo’s government is banking on luxury tourism to change the country’s image after the turmoil that followed last year’s disputed elections, in an attempt to present a more stable and attractive economic image to investors and visitors