Thursday, August 29, 2024 Mozambique, once a hidden gem cherished by seasoned travelers, is rapidly emerging as a top destination for visitors worldwide. The country’s exceptional natural beauty and rich biodiversity are fueling its rise in global popularity, with the Bazaruto Archipelago National Park being a standout attraction. This marine reserve, supported by TUI, is home to an impressive variety of protected species, including sharks, dolphins, and dugongs.
Spanning five islands, three of which are inhabited by approximately 7,000 residents, the park exemplifies Mozambique’s growing allure on the global tourism stage. However, the park’s fragile ecosystem faces significant challenges. Rapid population growth, climate change, unchecked development, and pollution are threatening both the region’s biodiversity and the livelihoods of the local community.
In response, considerable efforts are being made to address the overexploitation of natural resources, illegal fishing, and poorly regulated tourism. The TUI Care Foundation, in collaboration with African Parks, is now intensifying these conservation efforts to preserve this unique environment. The initiative, TUI Sea the Change Mozambique, aims to enhance the long-term sustainability of Bazaruto Archipelago National Marine Park by actively involving the local community and the tourism industry.
A critical aspect of the project is a carrying capacity study of the most popular dive sites, alongside the installation of 10 buoys to designate slow zones, no-take zones, and mooring areas. A new skipper licensing system is also being implemented to train 150 skippers on regulating maritime activities within the park. The project also seeks to create sustainable tourism experiences that will attract at least 25,000 participants annually.
These experiences will be led by licensed local skippers and supported by small and medium enterprises operating within the islands, ensuring that local communities benefit economically from tourism activities. Beyond environmental conservation, the initiative focuses on community development. Approximately 7,000 locals will be engaged in marine conservation awareness activities, with 2,000 fishers receiving training in sustainable fishing practices.
Community members will also be equipped with vital skills to improve their livelihoods. TUI Sea the Change Mozambique is supported by the Tourism for Development Fund, an initiative launched by the TUI Care Foundation in partnership with the UN Tourism Organization. This fund, aiming to mobilize at least €10 million by 2030, is dedicated to supporting sustainable tourism development in Least Developed Countries (LDCs), including Mozambique, Cambodia, Laos, Rwanda, Senegal, The Gambia, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia.
The fund’s projects focus on empowering destination communities, enhancing their livelihoods, conserving and restoring natural environments, and creating market-driven solutions that benefit local populations in tourism hotspots..
