As in past editions, it is expected that the occupancy rate in hotel establishments (hotels, tourist villages, aparthotels, guesthouses and guesthouses), especially in cities such as Benguela, Catumbela, Baía Farta and Lobito, could grow to 80 per cent.
Adilson Gonçalves, deputy provincial governor for Technical Services and Infrastructures and coordinator of the festivals in the city of Benguela, assured that the hotel sector is prepared to respond to the demand of tourists from the country and abroad, adding that the authorities are optimistic with the aforementioned expected demand in order to boost the economy at a local level, writes Angop.
The person responsible also highlighted that the response capacity has already been proven in past editions, so this year will be no different.
The provincial vice-governor – in statements during the presentation of the festivities program for the 407th anniversary of the city of Benguela, which took place on the 17th of this month – clarified that, within the scope of the outlined program, the festivities committee took care, from the beginning, to bring in the Benguela Hotel and Tourism Association, aiming for better preparation and maintaining a quality service.
Quoted by Angop, the official took the opportunity to recall that the province ends up receiving a lot of visitors on weekends, especially on long weekends, having highlighted the good capacity to respond. For him, he added, there are few complaints from tourists regarding the services provided, except for the scarcity of beds, admitting that these complaints about the lack of beds even become a positive sign of how the province has become a tourist destination in the country.
Among other aspects, he also made it known that the Benguela Hotel and Tourism Association is working with the Provincial Office of Culture, Tourism, Youth and Sports to redefine the province's tourist routes, with the updating of these routes, through the introduction of new sites that are still unexplored, is one of the many ways to increase tourist attraction.
He also considered that "there are many tourists, not only national but also international, with a lot of desire to visit Benguela", adding that the challenge is to make the Benguela festivals a good product in terms of tourism, as well as meeting the expectations of visitors to the province at this time, writes Angop.
It should be noted that this year's edition of the festivities is under the motto "May is Benguela" and will take place during this month. The program includes musical-cultural, sporting, recreational activities, agricultural, livestock, health and gastronomy fairs, among others.
According to a note from the Provincial Government of Benguela, to which VerAngola had access, as part of the festivities, concerts will be held with musicians such as Matias Damásio, Yola Semedo, NGA, etc. The Benguela International Fair is also planned to take place between the 22nd and 26th of this month.
