Local Economic Development in Mozambique - Responsible Tourism: Critical Issues for Conservation and Development - page 11

Orgware
Orgware assesses the empowerment of civil society and whether tourism-led LED
has led to sustainable development. Including society in the process of sustainable
development is important for achieving the government's goals of competitive-
ness and economic growth (Boddy, 2002, p42). Boddy argues that social
exclusion ' goes well-beyond simple notions of poverty, emphasizing broader ideas of
“deprivation” ' (Boddy, 2002, p43). Social exclusion is not a separate process but
has causal mechanisms, affecting savings and consumption, which are important
areas for taxation revenues. Economically, exclusion adversely affects private
investment due to higher levels of crime, lower levels of human capital and quality
of life (Boddy, 2002). Lower levels of disposable income places a greater burden
on the government to provide public services, such as health care, which it is
currently unable to sustain through taxation. The creation of Associations such as
APETUR (Association of Small Tourism Enterprises on Ilha de Moçambique)
and Naherenque-Assopena (an Association of Fishermen in Nacala) are positive
steps towards empowering civil society but what influence they exert on the
decision-making process is still to be determined.

Nampula province

Nampula province has been relatively undeveloped with regards to tourism and
has an opportunity to grow under an integrated plan to promote pro-poor
tourism and avoid the negative effects suffered by the south as a result of unregu-
lated tourism development. 5 Dollfus and Laurent (2007) suggest that Nampula
province is suffering from a negative image and a poor reputation as a tourist
destination. Table 1.1 displays the unpredictable flow of domestic and interna-
tional tourists into the province. Domestic tourists peaked significantly in 2004
before declining once again. Dollfus and Laurent state that 'the province receives
less than 3 per cent of total admissions of foreigners in Mozambique when it
represents 10 per cent of the country's land and 19 per cent of the population. 6
Nevertheless, despite the discrepancies between policy and practice in
Mozambique, there are positive examples. The following case studies outline a
pro-poor tourism venture by the sector and the informal economy linking into the
tourism market.

Table 1.1 Tourist entries in Nampula province

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

National 12,737 17,132 34,449 11,947 13,245

International 3627 13,563 13,524 8318 10,130

Total 16,364 30,695 47,973 20,265 23,375

Source: Interview: Director of Tourism for Nampula Province, 2007