Tourism management in Angola: Between a “global vision” and “local experience”
Keywords:
Turismo, Angola, Reforma Administrativa, Simplifica Turismo, Governação, Política PúblicaAbstract
This article, which arose from a broader investigation into tourism management in Angola (which began in December 2024) and was finishing its development phase, was appropriately adjusted to incorporate an analysis of the recently approved “Simplifica Turismo” program (May 2025). Given its extensive media coverage and the dynamic impact it has on the sector, this program was identified as a central development for this study, as it constitutes a turning point in national tourism policy. The analysis confronts the “global vision” of best practices and international models with the uncompromising “local evidence” of Angola's socio-economic, institutional, and political challenges. The axes of “Simplifica Turismo” - such as the “Alvará Único”, the end of the validity of tourist licenses, and the new “single environmental license” - are dissected, questioning the capacity for ex-post supervision, the sustainability of quality, the complexity of inter-ministerial coordination (which includes coordination with the National Bank of Angola for foreign exchange licenses and municipal decentralization) and the imperative for rapid and robust transposition into the legal system. Supported by a systematic review of the literature (Scopus and Web of Science) on regulatory reform and tourism governance, the article argues that the success of “Simplifica Turismo” extends beyond its formal architecture, rooted in its effective adaptation to Angola's endemic challenges. It concludes that without parallel investment in institutional strengthening and a culture of transparent governance, the most visionary reforms risk results below their potential, widening the gap between policy intent and operational reality.
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