The Angolan Government is implementing a new 5% tourism tax on the daily rate on international visitors up to seven nights, a measure designed to boost revenue for the sector, supporting tourism development, and enhance infrastructure as part of broader economic diversification efforts and is also planning the creation of a Convention Bureau.
According to the Minister of Tourism, Márcio Daniel, the Council of Ministers analysed six legal documents to embody and materialise the recent approval of “ Simplifica Turismo” (Simplifying Tourism), the Government’s programme to streamline procedures in public administration.
Among these documents, the Draft Legislative Authorization Law that allows the President of the Republic to approve the Legal Regime of the Special Contribution for Tourism, including the creation of a tax applicable to overnight stays of international tourists up to seven nights, was analysed.
The Minister of Tourism stressed that is a structuring measure that will revolutionise the tourism sector is financed, adding that this tax Angola is proposing is applicable to international tourists who are staying in a tourism resort, hotel, lodges for a period of up to seven nights.
Key Details of the New Tax:
• Tax Rate: 5% of the daily rate charged for accommodation.
• Applicability: International tourists staying in hotels, resorts, lodges, and similar tourist establishments.
• Duration: The Tax applies to the first seven days of a stay.
• Context: The measures was reviewed by the Council of Ministers alonfside other legal instruments in the “Simplifica Turismo” programme, which aims to streamline procedures.
• Goal: The funds will help develop the tourism sector and maintain new infrastructure.
The Angolan official also said that the Council of Ministers also approved the Proposal for a Presidential Decree that creates the Event Tourism Strategy for Angola to take advantage of the large - scale national, regional and continental investment that is has been making in recent years referring to the António Agostinho Neto International Airport (AIAAN).
Another topic was highlighted concerning the construction of a large conference and convention center in the Chicala area is finalising, and to take advantage of these infrastructures it is crucial that there is a structure responsible for attracting as many events as possible to Angola.
The Minister stated that the strategy involves the creation of a Convention Bureau, which will be under the responsibility of the Ministry of Tourism, dedicated to attracting public and private events to the country.
The official commented that the infrastructures that are being built will be not left idling, without any type of event, emphasizing that Angola, in order to have the dynamism of the MICE (Meeting, Incentives, Conference and Exhibition) market needs the creation of this Convention Bureau.
Currently the African contex in this segment is dominated by South Africa, with Cape Town leading, and Egypt, Kenya, Morocco and Rwanda as the the countries tht stand out in attracting events, described the Minister.
During the meeting the Council of Ministers also approved the proposal for a Presidential Decree that creates measures for the development of maritime tourisms, more specifically cruise ship tourism, so that Angola can take in high consideration the ports of Lobito, Luanda and Namibe, all them with capacity to receive cruise ships.
The holder of the Tourism portfolio in Angola highlighted that this strategy aims to make known the Angolan infrastructural potential, present the set of attractiveness, as as position the country as a strong destination in terms of cruise ships.
The Minister highlighted that in Africa the ports of Walvis Bay, Namibia, and Cape Town, attract a good part of the cruise ship traffic and they pass through the Angolan coast.
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