Mozambique has been named the Best Tourism Investment Destination at the World Tourism Awards 2026, an honour presented by the World Tourism Forum Institute in Brussels. According to the Club of Mozambique, the award was received by Fredson Bacar, the Secretary of State for Tourism in the Ministry of Economy, during a ceremony held alongside the Global Tourism Forum Annual Meeting. The event brought together ministers, investors, and industry leaders from various regions to recognise contributions to the global travel sector.
This recognition marks the second consecutive year that Mozambique has been honoured at the World Tourism Awards, following its selection as the Best Sustainable Destination in 2025. The Club of Mozambique notes that these consecutive honours reflect a growing confidence among international investors in the country’s tourism potential. The award is part of a broader strategy to position tourism as a central component of the nation’s economic development, moving beyond traditional reliance on extractive resources such as natural gas and coal.
The government’s push for tourism growth has been accompanied by significant structural reforms. The Club of Mozambique reports that the country established the National Agency for Tourism Development and Investment, created a special economic zone in Inhambane province, and introduced an electronic visa platform. These measures are designed to facilitate foreign investment and improve accessibility to key destinations. At a recent tourism summit in Vilankulo, President Daniel Francisco Chapo stated that tourist and investor arrivals had increased by more than 254% compared to the same period in the previous year.
International brands are increasingly investing in Mozambique’s tourism infrastructure. The Club of Mozambique highlights the launch of a $140 million resort project by Aman in Gaza province and plans by Singita to develop eco-lodges in the Bazaruto Archipelago. Additionally, the country’s media agency, Standup Mídia, won a separate award for its social media strategy related to the national tourism summit, giving Mozambique a second honour at the 2026 ceremony. These developments underscore the sector’s role in the government’s five-year economic programme, which aims to raise tourism’s contribution to the gross domestic product to 6% by 2029.