Angola is doubling down on tourism as a pillar of economic diversification, with President João Lourenço authorizing a $73 million investment to build integrated infrastructure at the Okavango Tourism Development Hub.
The move, formalized in Presidential Order 270/26 dated August 5, signals a strategic commitment to unlocking one of the country’s most promising natural assets.
According to the Angolan Ministry of Tourism, the funds will cover technical studies and detailed executive designs, alongside the rollout of primary utility networks—electricity, water, sanitation, and telecommunications—essential for any large-scale tourism development. Beyond utilities, the project includes construction of main and secondary access roads, drainage systems, pedestrian pathways, scenic viewpoints, and dedicated areas for tourist activities, creating the backbone for future private investment in hotels, lodges, and related services.
Contracting for the works will proceed via simplified direct procedures, with the Ministry of Tourism tasked to oversee all steps and monitor execution. The project is now inscribed in the 2026 Public Investment Program (PIP), ensuring budgetary allocation and executive-level oversight.
Classified as an Area of Tourism Interest and Potential (AIPT) of national importance, the Okavango basin spans parts of Moxico, Huambo, Bié, and Cuando Cubango provinces, offering exceptional conditions for ecotourism and conservation-led travel. The region sits within the larger Kavango-Zambezi (KAZA) transfrontier conservation area, shared with Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, positioning Angola to tap into a growing regional tourism market.
Government officials have repeatedly emphasized Okavango’s role in diversifying Angola’s oil-dependent economy, creating jobs, and promoting sustainable development in remote communities. President Lourenço has called tourism a “strategic axis” for national growth, underscoring the Okavango project as a catalyst for private sector participation and local economic integration.
In 2019, the government allocated about $232 million to improve access roads and construct border posts at Dirico, Mucusso, and other key crossings to facilitate cross-border tourism. More recently, in 2023, President Lourenço approved $19 million for a new international airport at Mavinga, further enhancing connectivity to the Okavango source. In April 2025, the first private tourism project in the area—Luiana Plains Safaris, backed by $3 million in investment—was registered, promising 140 direct jobs and deeper community involvement in conservation efforts.
These steps align with broader national strategies, including the National Plan for the Promotion of Tourism (PLANATUR), which targets large-scale public investment to boost tourist arrivals and internal mobility.
By investing in foundational infrastructure, Angola aims to remove long-standing barriers such as poor access and limited utilities that have deterred private developers. The goal is to create a competitive, sustainable tourism destination that leverages Okavango’s unique biodiversity and cultural heritage while generating employment and stimulating local value chains.
