Strengthening the Creative Industries for Development in ... - unctad

PART 3. CREATIVE INDUSTRIES POLICY REVIEW 37
contributed 3.4 per cent to the GDP of the region and was directly responsible for 1.75 million jobs in
2006 92 .
Mozambique has a wealth of natural tourism assets including 2,700 km of tropical coastline, wide
sandy bays, coral reefs and 15 per cent of its land declared “protected area”. Over the centuries, the
Portuguese, Arabic and African influences have fused together to create a uniquely Mozambican
culture, reflected in architecture, cuisine, language, art and music. Today, Mozambique still represents
a relatively untouched country. 93 Nevertheless, in 2007 the tourism sector attracted almost $1 billion in
FDI, mainly for the construction of luxury hotels. The country has three tourism zones: the south, the
centre and the north, which offer a range of destinations for discovery tourism and eco-tourism.
Progressively, efforts are being made to protect natural parks and reserves.
Within the strategy of the Plano Estratégico de Educação e Cultura, tourism appears to be a key sector
for economic development for the preservation of the natural and cultural heritage of Mozambique.
The planning for cultural tourism development should be articulated among the main actors in this
market, the government, the local community and the private sector. It is also important to highlight
the connection between tourism and the creative industries as an important source of employment and
a vibrant asset for the attraction of tourism and investment in local communities. The production of
creative goods and services such as cultural performances, films, music, books and art crafts should be
seen as an integral part of the economic and social life as well as of the cultural identity of the country.
Action: Measures should be put in place to provide information and sensitization programmes to
enable tourists and creative artists to be in more direct contact. For instance, this can be done through
the organization of tourist groups visiting specific art crafts communities, where a real exchange of
traditional knowledge takes place and the uniqueness of handmade techniques is displayed, traditional
dances are performed, stories of cultural heritage can be shared, etc.
SMEs and microenterprises account for a significant share of tourism development in most developing
countries, particularly in LDCs. The role of the creative industries should be recognized within the
tourism infrastructure of the country (art crafts, festivals, celebrations, cultural sites, paintings,
sculpture, live music, theater, dance, etc.). Accompanying national policies to sensitize creative
industries about the potential linkages with the tourism sector are also desirable.
Action: Create greater synergies between the creative industries with the tourism sector.
Figure 10: Art crafts from Mozambique
Photo by Edna dos Santos-Duisenberg
92
Mfune F (2008). Tourism Development in Southern Africa. The Official SADC Trade, Industry and
Investment Review 2007/08, SADC.
93
Mozambique Tourism Anchor Investment Programme.