adminMAPUTO. – Mozambique is boycotting South Africa’s major tourism fair, Indaba 2015, in protest against the attacks against foreigners living in South Africa.
Indaba 2015 is due to be held from May 9 to 11 in Durban, the scene of the worst xenophobic attacks.
The Mozambican Tourism Ministry and Mozambican tour operators participated in the fair previously, with exhibitions to showcase Mozambique’s own tourist potential.
But not this year. Cited in Wednesday’s issue of the Mediafax news-sheet, Rafael Nambale, head of the information and promotion department in the Culture and Tourism Ministry, said the decision had already been taken that the country would not take part in Indaba 2015.
“After what has happened, and what is still happening, the conditions are not conducive for Mozambique to participate.”
Nambale added that, given the decision, Mozambique would also not be present at the African tourism ministers’ meeting scheduled for next Friday.
Asked what the country stood to lose, Nambale replied that the safety of Mozambican citizens was more important.
Mozambique would participate in such events only if there were “effective security conditions, which is not the case”, he pointed out. – Independent Foreign Service.
Online Reporter