Mozambique: The Tourist Potential of Xai-Xai.

The Xai-Xai region, in the south of Mozambique, is home to a valuable tourist heritage waiting for better days. The once majestic and ancient Hotel Xai-Xai, on the seafront is today just one of the many rubbles that symbolize the unrealized tourist potential of the region, currently unexplored and crying out for attention and investment.

The Association of the Hotel and Similar Industry of the province of Gaza (Asinhos), through the voice of its vice-president, Ismael Suelmia, expresses concern about the lack of promotion, investment attraction and hotel supply and calls for tax incentives to revitalize such relics of the period colonial, pointing to the lack of tourist absorption capacity as an obstacle to attracting visitors.

The region's development could be catalyzed by the aforementioned tax incentives for entrepreneurs willing to invest in the province and in the recovery of these historic structures, as well as by the creation of authentic tourist itineraries to explore local traditions.

Tourism in Xai-Xai

Xai-Xai, in the south of Mozambique, holds the remains of its colonial past, with emphasis on the imposing Hotel Xai-Xai on the seafront. These remains represent the vast tourist potential of the region yet to be explored.

Ismael Suelmia, vice-president of the Gaza Hotel and Similar Industry Association (Asinhos), highlights that the province, especially Xai-Xai, has not taken advantage of its tourist wealth compared to neighboring destinations such as Inhambane. Inadequate promotion, lack of attractiveness for investors and lack of hotel infrastructure are issues that persist.

“On our beach we have two empty rubbles, which have been abandoned since colonial times.”

“I'm talking about practically more than 1.000 jobs, at least, that we could have until today”.

Regrets, Ismael Suelmia, vice-president of the Hotel and Similar Industry Association of the province of Gaza (Asinhos).

For the leader, the province, and especially Xai-Xai, continues to fail to take advantage of its tourism potential, in comparison with neighboring Inhambane, the main tourist destination in Mozambique, citing a lack of promotion, investment attraction and even hotel supply.

“We have two pieces of debris that are standing still. And yes, we have potential in beaches, but we don’t have the capacity to absorb the tourists themselves, so there is no attraction, we don’t have an attraction for tourists”, she acknowledges.

Overcoming Obstacles

To develop tourism, Suelmia defends the need for tax incentives for businesspeople to attract investors who want to settle in the province and revitalize historical structures, such as the Hotel Xai-Xai and Hotel Chongoene, which have remained abandoned since the end of the colonial period.

The city faces the challenge of not being able to absorb the number of potentially interested tourists. Furthermore, the lack of accessibility and tourist activities are significant obstacles. The reactivation of camping on Xai-Xai beach is one of the proposed solutions, highlighting the potential for small-scale, low-cost tourism.

“If there were incentives on the part of the Government to attract investors to what is our rubble, there are more than 40 years in which there is nothing”.

He points out the leader of Asinhos, which brings together around 150 tourism businesspeople from the province of Gaza, southern Mozambique.

The lack of accommodation and activities are aspects to which the association demands attention:

“We have almost five or six 'lodjes' available [on that beach], which is not enough.”

“Regarding tourism, we are really walking, as an old friend said, like a sick chameleon”.

“We are really having several development problems in this area.”

He regrets it, also pointing out the lack of accessibility, taking into account the approximately 200 kilometers that separate the province from the capital.

“But we have almost the entire road destroyed and this makes it, in a way, impossible for tourists to come here.”

Observes Ismael Suelmia, who also defends the reactivation of the campsites that exist there, next to Xai-Xai beach, to promote that niche of tourism.

The official considers it to be " small-scale, low-cost tourism, but it is tourism nonetheless ."

Exploring the Potential of Xai-Xai

Xai-Xai has safe beaches and stunning locations, offering a unique environment. An example of this is the “Reef Resort” which attracts tourists from South Africa, Botswana, Tanzania, Europe and Mozambique. However, there is a lack of activities for tourists interested in exploring the “virgin beaches” from Xai-Xai.

The creation of authentic tourist itineraries and packages for national tourists is seen as an opportunity to unlock the potential of Xai-Xai, a “pearl” waiting to be discovered. The path to success involves attracting more investors, promoting security in the region and creating more comprehensive tourism initiatives.

“We have one of the best beaches in terms of safety (…) It is one of the advantages we have, having a beach for swimmers that is spectacular”, he highlights.

Just ask Ernesto Pita, manager of the " Reef Resort " on that beach, where he employs 75 workers and offers 20 houses with a maximum capacity of over 150 people, currently fully booked and having recovered from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Still, he complains about the lack of other options for tourists seeking the " virgin beaches " of Xai-Xai.

“We need to look more at other things that tourists need to do while they are here in Xai-Xai”.

“This is the most essential part. At the moment we are only looking at the accommodation side and that is not everything”.

“We need to look at activities, Xai-Xai has no activities”.

He also points out, complaining about the rise in recreational fishing rates, the few occupations that tourists find there, in addition to the beach and nature.

“It’s a niche that is being lost”, he observes.

A few hundred meters next door is the Go Wild Resort, with eight houses, five apartments and also a privileged view of the beach, almost wild, protected by the green vegetation. That's where 15 people work and there's also a full house.

“We started well this summer season, we have teams of Spanish tourists who come, who go on excursions, then stop here to spend the night”.

“But we have no activities. Our beach has no activities. They say that it seems that Xai-Xai is not in Mozambique, Inhambane has more opportunities”.

Says Abraão Zandamela, manager of that hotel unit.

The creation of " itineraries " to guide tourists through the province's traditions, or the development of packages to attract domestic tourists, are initiatives that he says are lacking in order to " enjoy " the " pearl " that is Xai-Xai.

“It’s peaceful, peaceful. We don't have crime here (…) The people are also welcoming. We just have to attract more tourists and have more initiatives, more people with good hearts to invest”, he concludes.

Conclusion

Xai-Xai, known for its spectacular and safe beaches for swimmers, offers an irresistible invitation for tourism, but lacks activities and infrastructure for tourists. The region faces challenges that go beyond accommodation and the need to develop tourist activities as well as improving accessibility and promoting the region are vital.

With a safe and welcoming environment, the city has the potential to attract visitors eager to explore the “virgin beaches” of Xai-Xai. Investments in tourist activities and itineraries that highlight local traditions, as well as an offer of varied activities, can attract tourists eager to explore the cultural riches of Mozambique, and could be the key to promoting tourism.

Sustainable development and encouraging hospitality are crucial to unlocking the potential of Xai-Xai, which promises to be an undiscovered and unexplored treasure.

Have you ever heard of Xai-Xai? Are you curious and want to visit the place? We want to know your opinion, do not hesitate to comment and if you liked the article, share and give a “like/like”.

Picture: © 2023 DR