Travellers to Mozambique gain e-Visa access as country wins investment award

Mozambique received the Best Tourism Investment Destination prize at the World Tourism Awards 2026 in Brussels on the evening of 9 November 2026. Fredson Bacar, the country's Secretary of State for Tourism, accepted the award on behalf of the government, as Mozambique rolls out an electronic visa platform and prepares a "Visa Gold" scheme aimed at foreign investors.

Key facts

• 9 November 2026: award presented at the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium in Brussels
• Organised by the World Tourism Forum Institute during the Global Tourism Forum Annual Meeting 2026; 21 other prizes were handed out the same evening
• An electronic visa platform is being rolled out, alongside a "Visa Gold" scheme for foreign investors
• The Five-Year Programme for 2025–2029 aims to lift tourism's share of GDP to 6%
• President Daniel Chapo said tourist and investor arrivals rose by more than 254% year on year

What did Mozambique win?

The award was announced at a gala held between the two conference days of the Global Tourism Forum Annual Meeting 2026. The World Tourism Forum Institute organises the awards to recognise the destinations, companies and personalities it considers to be driving the sector forward, and 21 further prizes were presented that night.

Mozambique was honoured twice in the evening: Standup Mídia took Best Social Media Strategy in Tourism for its Mozambique Tourism Summit campaign. The country had already been named Best Sustainable Destination the previous year. Long known for its coastline, islands and wildlife, Mozambique now also promotes conservation, culture, gastronomy and golf.

What is changing for visas?

The source states that an electronic visa platform is being rolled out and that a "Visa Gold" scheme for foreign investors has been drawn up. No start date, application procedure, eligibility criteria, fee or length of stay is given for either measure, so travellers and investors should check current requirements before making plans.

What else is Mozambique doing to attract visitors?

Since taking office in January 2025, President Daniel Chapo has made tourism a priority to diversify the economy beyond gas, coal and other extractive industries. The government has set up a National Agency for Tourism Development and Investment (ANDITUR) and a Southern Corridor Special Tourism Economic Zone in Inhambane province, which is being developed as the national tourism hub.

Investment projects named include the US$140 million Aman resort at Karingani Game Reserve, launched by the President in September 2025, and new eco-lodges planned by Singita in the Bazaruto Archipelago. Access works under way include the Vilankulo waterfront, an airport expansion and development of the Massingir airfield.

At the second Mozambique Tourism Summit in Vilankulo earlier in November 2026, the President said arrivals of tourists and investors had grown by more than 254% year on year. The government presented 40 to 50 tourism projects to investors, 25 of them ready for financing, and Bacar's team has started work on a National Tourism Strategy and an Inhambane Master Plan with World Bank support, plus a national meetings and events (MICE) strategy. Mozambique also exhibited at IMEX Frankfurt for the first time.

What this means for travellers

Travellers considering Mozambique should check whether an electronic visa is available for their nationality before booking, as the platform is still being rolled out and the source gives no launch timeline. The Bazaruto Archipelago, Vilankulo and Inhambane province are the areas singled out for resort and access development.

Bacar told investors in Brussels that the country was moving beyond beach holidays, saying "Mozambique is rich. Mozambique is open." He also said tourism cannot be developed without local communities. No dates have been announced for the next steps of the e-Visa platform or the Visa Gold scheme.