Supporting the Policy Enabling Environment for Development
USAID SPEED

Tourism concessions in protected areas

Developing sustainable tourism concession models in and around Mozambique’s key protected areas, is one way for the Government of Mozambique (GoM) to get the private sector engaged, to enable communities to benefit from tourism development, job creation, and to help Mozambique’s tourism industry grow. When designed and implemented correctly, tourism concessions can greatly benefit a wide range of stakeholders, while ensuring the conservation of natural resources and biodiversity.

This study was commissioned under the USAID-SPEED program, and aimed to:

  • Examine best practice models of tourism concessions in protected areas, looking at current practices implemented in Mozambique, in the southern Africa (e.g. South Africa, Namibia, Botswana), and other countries where tourism concession models have been highly effective; 
  • Analyze implementation of concessions within Mozambique, including the experiences to date, lessons learned, best practices, and recommendations for future concession models; 
  • Analyze processes for procurement, negotiation and award of tourism concessions and leases in protected areas; • Review the institutional framework for concessions in Mozambique, including government policy and priorities, strategic objectives; decision making within government and the role of key stakeholders; 
  • Assess the Mozambique government’s ability to manage, process, evaluate, negotiate and implement tourism concessions in protected areas 
  • Understand the role of local communities in tourism concessions in protected areas and assess possible structures for the establishment of partnerships between local communities, private investors and the State; and 
  • Provide recommendations for appropriate concession models and processes that could be applied to Mozambique’s protected areas; implementation for selected concession models; and procurement methods to secure tourism concessions in protected areas

Approximately 15% of Mozambique’s land area is comprised of State owned National Parks and Reserves. Developing sustainable tourism concession models in and around Mozambique’s key protected areas , is one way for the Government of Mozambique (GoM) to get the private sector engaged, to enable communities to benefit from tourism development, to create jobs, and to help the Mozambique’s tourism industry grow. When designed and implemented correctly, tourism concessions can greatly benefit a wide range of stakeholders, while ensuring the environmental protection of critical assets.

This Manual is designed to provide the private sector and stakeholders in general with a step-by-step guide to help them understand the process for obtaining and operating a tourism concession in Mozambique National Parks and Reserves.

Related Documents: