The 2016 edition of the Mozambique International Tourism Fair will be held in Maputo from 14 to 17 October with the participation of about 160 exhibitors and Mozambican economic agents and eight countries in Africa, Europe and Asia, said the Director General of the Institute national Tourism (Inatur).

Albino Mahumane, Director General of Inatur, the event’s organizer, said the number of participants exceeds the number registered in 2015, which was attended by 134 Mozambican and four foreign exhibitors, according to Mozambican daily newspaper Noticias.

The event, which is entitled “Discover Mozambique” is intended to promote the country’s potential and put it on the route of the preferred destinations, to strengthen trade relations, partnerships and exchanges between players in the sector, promote national culture and cuisine and attract the interest of national and foreign investors in any of the country’s provinces.

Tourism currently accounts for 6.5% of formal jobs in Mozambique, and the restaurant sector, which is one of the main activities, employs 58,000 people.

Figures from Inatur showed the number of tourists registered in 2015 was 1.6 million, and revenues reached US$193 million. (macauhub)