Overview:

ACAMBIDEC successfully activated nature-based tourism capacity in the Bajone Sanctuary by engaging the local community and installing critical infrastructure like a solar power plant. They curated a collection of tourist attractions, showcasing the region’s natural, cultural, and historical sites, and making them accessible through digital and print catalogues. Their training programs empowered the community with skills in site interpretation, environmental protection, and tourism management. This initiative not only improved the infrastructure and resources for eco-tourism but also fostered community ownership and economic opportunities linked to tourism.   

The Challenge:

Mozambique's Zambezia Province holds immense potential for ecotourism but faces limited infrastructure and accessibility. The Bajone Sanctuary required sustainable tourism development that preserved cultural and ecological values while encouraging local participation and economic opportunities.

The Solution:

ACAMBIDEC adopted a participatory approach, working with community members to curate tourist attractions, showcasing the region's natural, cultural, and historical sites. They also built a solar power plant to provide clean energy for the Cafassa Touristic Complex.

Why this matters:

This project not only enhanced the infrastructure and resources for eco-tourism but also promoted community ownership and economic opportunities linked to tourism, ensuring the long-term sustainability of the Bajone Sanctuary.

Main outputs and achievements:

ACAMBIDEC's work resulted in the installation of a micro solar power plant at the Cafassa Touristic Complex, providing clean and reliable energy, reducing reliance on diesel generators, and enhancing the tourist experience. They successfully curated Bajone's tourist attractions, showcasing the region's natural, cultural, and historical sites, and integrating them into digital and print tourism catalogues, increasing visibility and attracting potential tourists. Their training programs for the local community, which included training in site interpretation, environmental protection, and tourism management, empowered community members with skills to participate in and benefit from the tourism sector. They also conducted training programs specifically designed to empower women and youth to actively participate in the tourism sector, highlighting their role in promoting cultural tourism, guiding, hospitality services, and small business development linked to tourism.   

Support the project:

Interested parties could assist ACAMBIDEC by providing funding for upscaling the project's impact, such as expanding the solar power plant or replicating the model in other tourism sites.  Support could also include replicating the solar energy model in other locations within the Bajone Sanctuary or in similar ecotourism projects elsewhere.  Additionally, funding could be used to improve infrastructure, such as trails, visitor centers, and sanitation facilities, enhancing the overall tourist experience and promoting sustainable tourism development in the region.

Lessons learned:

ACAMBIDEC learned that community engagement and ownership are essential for the success and sustainability of eco-tourism projects. Providing targeted training to local communities empowers them to participate in and benefit from the tourism sector. Integrating curated attractions into existing platforms enhances their visibility and attracts potential tourists.