As the country rolls out its administrative facilitation program « Simplify Tourism »Last Tuesday, the government announced a new measure: the introduction of a tourist tax. For European travelers unfamiliar with this destination, here is what you need to know about this new measure and the ambitions it is financing.
A tax of 5 % capped at one week
As part of a strategy aimed at « revolutionize the way the tourism industry is financed »The Angolan government has approved the creation of a special tourism tax.
Specifically, this tax will apply to foreign tourists staying in lodging establishments (hotels, lodges, tourist complexes). The amount was set at 5 % of the overnight rate.
However, the Minister of Tourism, Márcio Daniel, sought to reassure people about the financial impact for long stays: the tax only applies to first 7 days. For stays longer than one week, additional nights will be exempt from this tax.
Angola faces regional competition: The challenge of MICE and cruises
The country is lagging behind in the business tourism segment (MICE – Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions), a market currently dominated by the’South Africa (particularly Cape Town), the Rwanda, THE Kenya, l'Egypt or the Morocco.
To bridge this gap, Luanda is investing in world-class infrastructure, including the new Dr. António Agostinho Neto International Airport (an investment of $3.8 billion) and a future conference center in the Chicala area. The creation of a « Convention Bureau »will have the specific mission of capturing these international events.
Diverting flows from Namibia and South Africa
The other major area of development concerns cruise tourism. Angola wants to capitalize on its immense coastline by exploiting its three major ports: Luanda, Lobito And Namibe.
The government's assessment is pragmatic: cruise ships already sail along the Angolan coast to reach the busy ports of Walvis Bay in Namibia and the Cap in South Africa. By improving its port infrastructure and promoting its cultural and natural assets, Angola hopes to capture a share of this rapidly growing maritime traffic.
| The INE (National Institute of Statistics) recorded a 25% increase in the number of international tourists during the first three quarters of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024. Portugal (32.7 million) remains the leading source market, ahead of Brazil (5.7 million), India (4.3 million), and France (4.1 million), where Emmanuel Macron recently visited. Europe as a whole accounts for 50.1 million arrivals. Over the last complete statistical cycle (2022-2023), the sector recorded 6.6 million overnight stays in Angola. |
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