PUBLIC POLICIES AND TOURISM DEVELOPMENT IN MOZAMBIQUE: ANALYSIS OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF INHAMBANE MUNICIPALITY STRATEGIC PLAN (2009-2019)

Abstract

doi: 10.12957/geouerj.2017.28206

Strategic plans for tourism development are instruments, usually public, which direct the actions that each of the stakeholders in the tourism sector should develop to change certain identified as a negative development scenario or to direct actions to maintain the quality of the aspects that are positive. It’s elaboration and implementation results of participatory discussions and preliminary studies that define a goal that will guide the development of tourism in the town. This article aims to analyze the degree of implementation of the Strategic Plan of Inhambane municipality (2009-2019), after eight years of its adoption and implementation. This public policy gives a set of actions to enhance the municipality as a competitive tourist destination in the regional, national and international scale. Inhambane is one of Mozambican tourist destination that receives more visitors and the good territorial organization is a premise to guarantee the quality of the services. The analysis of this instrument aims the verification of (im) compliance and implementation of the plan. Specifically, it identifies the achievements and limitations in carrying out planned actions for the tourism sector. To achieve the objectives were used the bibliographical and documental research and fieldwork. The results shows that the implementation of this plan is delayed than was projected, and this reality limits, in short and medium term, the integrated development of tourism. More than 50% of the planned actions were not developed, at the planned time, and continues without conclusion, which shows the ineffectiveness of this instrument as local development guide, mainly to ensure that development indicators are achieved.