Local Economic Development in Mozambique - Responsible Tourism: Critical Issues for Conservation and Development - page 3

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Local Economic Development in
Mozambique:
An Assessment of the Implementation of Tourism
Policy as a Means to Promote Local Economies
Andrew Rylance
Introduction
In 2001 the Mozambique Government produced a framework for economic
development entitled the 'Action Plan for Absolute Poverty Reduction' (PARPA).
PARPA highlighted the importance of poverty reduction and job creation as focal
points for economic growth.The policy stresses the importance of local economic
development (LED) as one of the most effective ways of contributing to poverty
reduction, creating sustainable jobs and building local capacity (Empel et al,
2006). The Government of Mozambique identified tourism as an instrument to
promote local economic development. This chapter analyses the PARPA
document and the validity of tourism as a proposed solution to achieving
PARPA's objectives. It assesses the structure of LED in Mozambique before
analysing whether the practical experience reflects the policies and promotion of
sustainable growth of local economies.
Helmsing defines LED as 'a process in which partnerships between local
governments, community and civic groups and the private sector are established
to manage existing resources to create jobs and stimulate the economy of a well
defined area. It emphasizes local control, using the potentials of human, institu-
tional, physical and natural resources. LED initiatives mobilize actors,
organizations and resources, develop new institutions and local systems through
dialogue and strategic actions' (2003, p69). Consequently, LED strategies require