afrol News, 25 September - Only few years after the civil war, Angola is already starting to generate revenues from its nascent tourism sector. In 2005, the tourism sector in Angola created receipts of approximately US$ 104.2 million and attracted more than 200,000 foreigners with tourist visas, according to government statistics.

The tourism sector has been slowly rising from almost zero to a new revenue source during the last few years. In 2005, around 210,000 foreign visitors had entered the country with a tourist visa. There were an additional 15,600 tourists from overseas, than in the previous year.

According to the state agency for private investments (ANIP), the sector currently provides 49,500 jobs in Angola, with 734 establishments offering accommodation. Only 130 of these were being hotels, ANIP however pointed out.

The lack of an infrastructure is believed to hinder an even faster development of the sector. Tourism authorities of the Angolan capital, Luanda, estimate that in that city alone, there is a shortage of 3,000 hotel beds. "This situation is expected to improve in coming years with the opening of a number of new hotels," ANIP held.

Investments in the nascent sector however already are being noted. Luanda, recently gained a new two-star hotel, Fleuma, whose construction costs were estimated at US$ 4 million. The new hotel was to be located at 21 de Janeiro Avenue in the Samba district.

The unit has 19 rooms, suites, a restaurant, a swimming pool, private parking and other amenities. "Hotel Fleuma will have prices comparing to the other existing hotels in Angola with the goal of not becoming too expensive," Luanda tourism authorities report.

Angola's tourism sector started at about zero in 2002, when peace finally returned to the country. Decades of war had left the entire infrastructure in ruins. With peace, especially Luanda has experienced a boom and rapid reconstruction. Most of Angola outside the capital remains totally inaccessible to tourists.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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