Mozambique welcomed 1,153,698 foreign visitors in 2023, according to figures released by Mozambique’s National Institute of Statistics and reported by state-run Radio Mozambique on Friday. This figure represents a substantial 43 percent decrease from the 2,032,923 foreign arrivals recorded in 2019, prior to the global disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Adriano Matsimbe, the national director of sectoral and business statistics at the National Institute of Statistics, disclosed these figures during the inauguration of the 10th edition of the International Tourism Fair in Maputo, the capital city of Mozambique. Matsimbe’s presentation underscored the significant impact that the pandemic has had on the country’s tourism industry, which had been steadily growing prior to 2020.
The majority of the foreign visitors, comprising 65.5 percent, travelled to Mozambique for leisure purposes, indicating the enduring appeal of the nation’s natural beauty and cultural heritage despite the challenging global environment.
The largest share of these tourists hailed from South Africa, accounting for 33.5 percent of the total. Portugal followed, contributing 10.3 percent of the visitors, while the United Kingdom and the United States each represented 6.2 percent. Italy accounted for 4.4 percent, Brazil 3.8 percent, India 2.6 percent, and China 2.3 percent.
The downturn in visitor numbers highlights the ongoing challenges faced by Mozambique’s tourism sector as it seeks to recover from the pandemic’s lingering effects. Nonetheless, the country remains a prominent destination in Southern Africa, with strong potential for growth as global travel continues to normalise.
