About 200 km from the Mozambique capital of Maputo, expectations of the people in Gaza are rising. The province, endowed with some of the finest tourist attractions in the country, has long been regarded as inaccessible due to lack of transport infrastructure, most notably an airport.

But that's all about to change. The new Chongoene International Airport, already under construction outside the provincial capital of Xai-Xai, has given hope to the tourism industry in Gaza, and is widely regarded as a boost to the local economy.

With a budget of $65 million, funded entirely by a donation from the Chinese Government, the airport is being built by the China Airport Construction Group Co. Ltd.

In a recent address on the International Airport in Chongoene: Perspectives for Increasing the Speed ​​of Development in Gaza Province, President of Mozambique Filipe Nyusi said the airport has the responsibility to accelerate the "speed of development of the Gaza Province."

It is a small airport with a track of 1,800 meters long and 45 meters wide and with a flight air indicator to satisfy the takeoff and landing of model EMB170 or lower planes.

Alleviating development bottlenecks

The Chongoene International Airport is small in comparison to most international airports, but its presence will nonetheless have a big impact. The project will occupy an area of 1.4 square km, and will be made up of a passenger terminal, control towers, a fire rescue center, several runways, parking platforms and cargo warehouses.

Until mid-2018, Gaza was the only Mozambican province whose capital did not have an international airport. Fittingly, President Nyusi said, "This airport aims to respond to equity and social justice among the provinces of our country."

In recent years, the state of resource development in agriculture, mining, tourism and other industries in Gaza Province has grown; but poor transport infrastructure has become a bottleneck for local economic development.

According to Emilia Mapsanganhe, Director of Tourism of Gaza Provincial Government, the lack of an airport in the province is the main reason why the number of tourists entering and leaving Gaza is the lowest in the country when compared to other provinces.

The construction phase of the airport began in October 2018, and is expected to take 24 months to complete. "It will generate several direct and indirect jobs, as well as direct jobs in its operational phase," said President Nyusi.

Logistically, the airport is well placed, being 15 km from Xai-Xai City, 58 km from Chibuto District, where a heavy sand exploration project is located, 7 km from the beach at Chongoene, just under 50 km from the Chidenguele Tourist Village, and about 200 km from the Limpopo National Park, which is bordered by the Kruger Park in South Africa.

Tourism convenience

In a seminar attended by investors from six African and Asian countries including China, the Gaza Provincial Government launched its Provincial Strategic Plan (2018-27) in December 2018 to boost locil development.

According to Mapsanganhe, this plan is designed to open the province to investment in its areas of potential, now facilitated by the new airport.

With a total area of ​​75,709 square km and 200 km of coast washed by the Indian Ocean, creating blue-water beaches, Gaza is now on the radar of tourists and investors interested in developing tourism in the province.

Visitors to Xai-Xai can now see changes in the city with hotels and mansions being built along the beach road, standing in stark contrast to the humble houses of those who have lived there for years.

One business that has already felt the impact of the new airport is Camping, a camping establishment for tourists who want to enjoy nature and holiday beside Gaza's beaches. Zibuna Momade, Manager of Camping, said her company opened in 2005 but closed in 2009 due to lack of tourists.

In late 2018, Camping reopened. When asked why she reopened it, she said the answer is obvious. "Chongoene Airport will open doors so that many tourists will want to visit Xai-Xai beach and we have to be prepared to receive them."

Mapsanganhe shares the same expectations as Momade. The province's tourism director said that on average, Gaza Province receives around 50,000 international tourists a year, and in the festive season of 2017 alone, tourists spent about $3.9 million in Gaza.

Mapsanganhe believes the new airport will triple the numbers of visitors as it will considerably reduce the time that the visitors take to reach the province. She said that in the past, people stayed away from Gaza as they had to fly to Maputo and then drive another 220 km, which was inconvenient.

"Tourism is all about convenience, and tourists have become spoilt. People now want to waste less time traveling, and spend more time on leisure, as this is the purpose of their trip," said Mapsanganhe.

In addition to the beaches, one of the main tourist attractions of Gaza Province is the areas of environmental and natural conservation. Among the best examples are the Banhine and Limpopo national parks.

(Reporting from Mozambique)

(Comments to niyanshuo@chinafrica.cn)

Home of Mozambican Heroes

Gaza Province is known as the mother of the Mozambican heroes because it is the home of political leaders who led the national liberation wars until the country won its independence.

Among several heroes born in that province are Ngungunhane, considered the Lion of Gaza. He was the last emperor of the Empire of Gaza and the first to resist the Portuguese colonial occupation in the territory of that province.

Eduardo Mondlane, known as the Architect of National Unity, was also born in Gaza, in Manjacaze District. He was the founder of the party that led the fight for independence, a party that until now still leads Mozambique. His birthplace has been declared a historical heritage and attracts tourists.

Gaza's most famous son is Samora Machel, the first president of the Republic of Mozambique, who led the battle against the Portuguese settlers, and declared Mozambique's independence on June 25, 1975. Machel's homeland Chilembene was declared a national heritage and has been a must-see location for tourists interested in the history of this leader.