Mozambique, once a hidden gem for seasoned travelers, is rapidly emerging as a popular destination worldwide. Its exceptional natural beauty, particularly the Bazaruto Archipelago National Park, is driving this surge in tourism. This marine reserve, supported by TUI, is home to a diverse range of protected species, including sharks, dolphins, and dugongs, making it a haven for marine life.
However, the park’s fragile ecosystem is facing significant challenges. Rapid population growth, climate change, uncontrolled development, and pollution threaten the region’s biodiversity and the livelihoods of the local community. These threats include overexploitation of natural resources, illegal fishing, and poorly regulated tourism.
In response, the TUI Care Foundation, in collaboration with African Parks, has launched the ‘TUI Sea the Change Mozambique’ initiative. This initiative aims to ensure the long-term sustainability of the Bazaruto Archipelago National Marine Park by actively involving local communities and the tourism industry. Key elements of this initiative include:
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Carrying Capacity Studies:
A comprehensive assessment of the most popular dive sites to understand the impact of tourism and manage visitor numbers.*
Designated Zones:
Installation of 10 buoys to create slow zones, no-take zones (where fishing is prohibited), and designated mooring areas for boats.*
Skipper Licensing System:
Training 150 skippers on regulating maritime activities within the park, ensuring responsible practices.*
Sustainable Tourism Experiences:
Developing tourism experiences that attract at least 25,000 participants annually, led by local skippers and supported by small and medium enterprises within the islands. This approach aims to ensure economic benefits for the local community.Beyond environmental conservation, the initiative focuses on community development. It involves approximately 7,000 locals in marine conservation awareness activities, provides training in sustainable fishing practices for 2,000 fishers, and equips community members with skills to improve their livelihoods.
‘TUI Sea the Change Mozambique’ is supported by the Tourism for Development Fund, an initiative launched by the TUI Care Foundation in partnership with the UN Tourism Organization. This fund, aiming to mobilize at least €10 million by 2030, supports sustainable tourism development in Least Developed Countries (LDCs), including Mozambique. The fund’s projects prioritize empowering destination communities, enhancing their livelihoods, conserving and restoring natural environments, and creating market-driven solutions that benefit local populations in tourism hotspots.
The success of the ‘TUI Sea the Change Mozambique’ initiative hinges on balancing the economic benefits of tourism with the need to protect the fragile marine environment. By engaging local communities and adopting sustainable practices, the project strives to ensure that the Bazaruto Archipelago remains a thriving ecosystem and a sustainable tourist destination for generations to come.
