“Cape Verde is winning the challenge of tourism,” and UNOTUR, the country’s National Union of Tourist Operators, wants to help keep it that way, according to statements from its president, former Prime Minister Gualberto do Rosário, made during the 3rd International Tourism Encounter, which begins today on the island of Sal.

The event, which will run until Friday, October 5, will be opened by President Pedro Pires and will feature a tourism trade fair and various debates. According to Gualberto do Rosário, the country’s tourist business operators are optimistic, with tourism seen as a possible “structured solution” for Cape Verde’s development.

In Rosário’s opinion, “Cape Verde has a valuable potential for tourist development that has begun to be recognized by investors, but also by the tourists who visit the country. This is a reality.”

Rosário also added that “I admit that if Cape Verde manages to resolve its problems so that tourism becomes the reality we want it to be, tourism will not be merely a fashion but a structured solution through which the country, in the long run, will live essentially from tourism and the economic activities connected to it.”

Gualberto do Rosário stressed that with the International Tourism Encounter UNOTUR aims to analyze the challenges currently faced by the sector. “Our position, as UNOTUR and as business operators as well, is that of an optimistic perspective. We believe that Cape Verde is winning this challenge, as the flow of tourists grows with each passing day, as do investments. And we are seeing an increase in the number of businesses and investors in Cape Verde recognized internationally as among the best,” he stated.

“Tourism in Cape Verde: from vision to reality, shortening distances” is the theme of this third international encounter promoted by UNOTUR, which features the participation of operators and specialists in the sector from both Cape Verde and abroad, in addition to local and central political representatives. Minister of the Economy, Growth and Competitiveness José Brito, for example, will preside over the event’s closing ceremony Friday.

Source: A Semana