The Government of Mozambique has announced plans to transform Chigamane, located in Vilanculo district, into a new center for golf tourism. Construction of this project began today and aims to strengthen the tourism offering, attract visitors, and create local employment.
The initiative was presented by the President of the Republic after the laying of the first stone for the construction of the golf courses by Mozambican President Daniel Chapo during a ceremony held in Chigamane, a settlement within the tourism district of Inhambane province.
In its statement, the Presidency indicated that this venture is a bet on diversifying Vilanculo's tourism offerings, striving to increase the district's attractiveness and strengthen its position as a benchmark destination in national and international tourism markets.
According to the report, the project is intended to attract tourists from various regions of Mozambique, as well as from countries such as South Africa, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, and Zambia. This will create conditions for revitalizing the local economy, stimulating entrepreneurial development, and expanding the participation of local operators in the tourism value chain.
The project aligns with a broader strategy developed by the Government for developing golf tourism in Inhambane province. In October, the executive branch approved the legal framework for a new Special Golf Tourism Zone (ZETG), created to attract both domestic and foreign investment capital and develop the high value-added tourism segment.
Established by Decree No. 56/2026, the ZETG covers the districts of Vilanculo, Inhassoro, Massinga, Jangamo, Zavala, and Govuro, with the possibility of future expansion to other areas of the province. This document defines the goal of transforming Inhambane into an 'international platform of excellence in golf tourism, high-end hospitality, fine leisure, and specialized tourism investments,' while strengthening the province's status as Mozambique's 'National Capital and Tourism Hub.'
Within this special zone, approved projects receive a special incentive regime, including access to land reserved for investment, tax benefits, non-financial guarantees, and priority for dividend repatriation for foreign investors.
The model also provides for the creation of a Golf Tourism Development Fund (FDTG), which is intended to finance infrastructure, technical training, international promotion, tournaments, youth public programs, and initiatives for environmental protection and local content usage.
Zone management is entrusted to the state company National Agency for Integrated Tourism Development (Anditur), which is responsible for supporting investors, facilitating licensing processes, issuing project opinions, and seeking funding sources for approved enterprises.
According to information published today by the Presidency, the necessary equipment and machinery for carrying out work in Chigamane are already on site, allowing the project to commence implementation.
In addition to the tourism component, the investments are expected to bring economic and social benefits to local communities through job creation, especially for youth and women, as well as through the promotion of professional training and upskilling programs. Among the planned areas of study is English language learning, which the Government considers an important tool for improving the quality of service to international guests.
In July, the Governor of Inhambane, Francisco Pagula, told Lusa that the province plans to start building the first golf course this year through private investment estimated at five million dollars (4.3 million euros), and that negotiations are also underway for a second project as part of the strategy to turn Inhambane into a regional hub in this discipline.
