At the meeting, both parties explored "possible new routes", highlighting the "historical, century-old Lobito-Benguela section", as well as the Lubango-Moçâmedes route.
"During the hearing, possible new routes were explored, highlighting the historic, century-old Lobito-Benguela section and the stunning Lubango-Moçâmedes scenic route, both seen as promising options for the development of tourist train tours", the ministry said in a statement to which VerAngola had access.
"With the international certification of Lobito airport and the start of the first regional operations expected soon", the Minister of Tourism, quoted in the note, highlighted "this as an advantage for boosting tourist traffic, as they will no longer need to travel to Luanda to enjoy the tourist potential of other areas of the country".
The Minister of Tourism, speaking to the press at the end of the meeting, said that he had spoken about the enormous tourist potential still waiting to be explored on the national railway, and that it was also imperative to maximize the use of the railway, which in his view is not limited to economic and commercial aspects, but also to the tourist potential, which should be explored by the world's leading experts.
He also recalled that the country has been part of the Rovos Rail route – known as the most luxurious train in the world – since 2019, and identified as the next challenge to be proposed to the aforementioned company, in addition to trips abroad, the implementation of tourist excursions in the interior of Angola, which could attract tourists, considering the international certification of the Catumbela and Mukanka airports.
According to the Minister, talks are also underway with businesspeople in the country to encourage them to invest in carrying out tourist train tours, under a public-private partnership.
South African businessman Rohan Vos also spoke on the occasion, expressing his interest in developing the new routes in Angola.
Quoted in the government's statement, the official also praised the "quality of the railway lines and the safety that the country offers to tourists, as determining factors in the process".
He also indicated that the luxury train will return to Angola next July, after its last visit to Angolan territory took place in July this year, which "allowed more than 60 tourists to visit the provinces of Moxico, Huambo, Benguela and Bié".
