Mozambique´s tour operators want to re-open Ponta do Ouro airport

2011-11-01 13:27:32

A group of Mozambican tour operators plans to present a project to the Tourism Ministry to re-open the Ponta do Ouro airport in Maputo province next to the South African border, according to the Mozambican press.

The group hired a South African company to draw up a report on the inherent costs of re-launching operations at the airport in order to attract tourists with high demands in terms of comfort.

According to the study, refurbishment of the current facilities would cost around US$600,000 (16.2 million meticals), whilst building a new airport from scratch would require investment of US$12 million.

A convoy of fifty vehicles and over 250 people, between 24 and 27 October visited the tourist areas of iSimangaliso (KwaZulu-Natal/South Africa), Ponta do Ouro and the Hlane Reserve, in Simunye (Swaziland), as part of the promotion of the 3 East Route, a joint project of the governments of the three countries.

Minister Fernando Sumbana, at a meeting held in M´babane, gave assurances that efforts were being made to solve the Maputo/Kosi Bay road situation, as part of construction of the road between the Mozambican capital and Catembe costing over US$500 million.

The project will be funded by China, after Portugal had to drop out
of funding it.

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