Angola aims to position tourism as a driver of sustainable development

At the opening press conference of ITB Berlin 2026, Márcio de Jesus Lopes Daniel, Minister of Tourism of the Republic of Angola, highlighted the role of host country and welcomed the international media and industry representatives.

The minister thanked ITB Berlin, Messe Berlin and the city of Berlin for their partnership and praised Germany as an important partner. Angola's participation as host country at the 60th edition underlined the country's growing international role in the dialogue on worldwide tourism, he said.

He highlighted tourism as a key element of Angola's economic diversification – with the aim of creating long-term and stable added value beyond the oil sector. Sustainability was at the heart of the country’s tourism strategy: economic resilience, social inclusion and ecological responsibility were integral parts of the direction development was taking, he said.

With regard to Angola's young population, the minister described the country’s demographic situation as a huge asset. Tourism offered good employment prospects – including in the hotel industry, culture, service sectors and creative industries. There was a particular focus on training, entrepreneurship and community-based tourism models designed to promote local added value, he said.

Under the heading ’The Rhythm of Life’, the minister presented Angola's brand of tourism. Culture, music and dance, diverse natural beauty and vibrant communities were what made up the country. Angola was positioning itself as an authentic, culturally rich and hitherto undeveloped destination with great potential.

Summarising, the minister invited visitors to get to know Angola better at ITB Berlin and beyond, and called for partnerships, investment and deeper international dialogue to jointly advance the development of the tourism sector.