Maputo - Tourism is buoyant in Mozambique, famous for its white-sand beaches, with government income from the sector doubling in four years, a government minister told Parliament on Thursday.
Tourism added $185 million to state coffers in 2008, up from $95 million in 2004 and a 13 percent increase from 2007.
Speaking in the National Assembly, Planning and Development Minister Aiuba Cuereneia said that Mozambique, which was a premier tourist destination before the country's 16-year civil war that ended in 1992, was regaining its reputation as one of southern Africa's beautiful spots.
In 2008 about 1.7 million tourists visited Mozambique, mostly from neighbouring South Africa.
"The sector is one of the major contributors to our economy with yearly investments of $600 million and currently employing 20 000 people," Cuereneia said.
The government's goal is to reach four million tourists a year by 2020. To achieve this figure the sector must grow at 16 per cent a year, Cuereneia said. - Sapa-DPA.