In South East Africa, the Mozambican government is investing in inbound tourism. A new integrated tourism zone in the northern province of Nampula is in the works that will cover the Crusse and Jamali islands in Mossuril district, and the adjacent area of the mainland, covering a total area of 1,750 hectares. Crusse and Jamali had already been earmarked as an “area of tourism interest” in a government decree of 2010. Deputy Justice Minister Alberto Nkutumula told?AllAfrica.com?that the plan is to build luxury hotels, and complementary units such as a marina, a casino and an 18 hole golf course.
Other hotels are rising in other parts of the country:?The National?is reporting that Minor Hotel Group and Rani Investment formed a joint venture for the ownership of Indigo Bay Resort & Spa – a five-star, 44-villa resort on Bazaruto Island, 30 kilometers off the east coast of the country that will be rebranded as Anantara Bazaruto Island Resort & Spa later this year.
The new partnership will also explore more opportunities in Mozambique, including in the capital Maputo, and in the East Africa market to further strengthen MHG?s presence on the continent. These properties will be a mix of new-build and re-brand and will be flagged with MHG?s international hotel brands, including Anantara, AVANI and the serviced apartment Oaks brand which is currently expanding into Asia and the Middle East.
Dubai-based Rani Investment is the investment arm of Aujan Group Holding with more than US$300 million of dedicated investments in the Middle East and Africa. Rani Investment is the largest private hospitality owner-operator in Mozambique, having first established its presence in 1999 under the Rani Resorts name.
Earlier this year, we reported that?South African hotel group Tsogo Sun is looking to invest $100 million?in two hotel projects in Mozambique and Nigeria. $30 million will go towards expanding the Southern Sun hotel in Maputo, with construction involving a total overhaul of the hotel and its 158 rooms. Southern Sun’s common areas will also be updated, and its restaurant will be expanded while another 110-room building will be constructed. This new building will contain new conference and meeting facilities.
“The Mozambican economy has shown encouraging signs of growth in recent years, and Tsogo Sun has benefited from a strong trading at the Southern Sun Maputo,” Marcel von Aulock, CEO of Tsogo Sun, told?All Africa?at the time.