SAMBALASUN.COM
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
The government is implementing a whole series of programmes through its fifth
National Development Plan (NDP - 2001-2005) supported by Cape Verde's international
aid donors to improve the infrastructures fundamental to the development of
the archipelago into a quality tourism destination. Programmes under the NDP
in areas such as transportation (air, maritime, inter-island and road transportation),
communication, banking, health provision, electricity, water and sanitation
provision and professional training are included under the NDP. The creation
of jobs is a primary concern and the establishment of a flourishing tourism
industry is seen as one of the key areas for development, besides light-manufacturing,
transhipment and fishing for the expansion of export earnings. Tourism is now
one of the key industry sectors targeted by the government in its strategy for
economic development under the National Tourism Development Plan.
Presently, about 130,000 tourists visit Cape Verde each year. By the year 2015 the Direccao-Geral de Desenvolvimento Turistico anticipates that tourist numbers should increase to about 500,000 per year with the expected increase in the development of quality tourism accommodation in Cape Verde.
The new Praia international airport on Santiago Island is scheduled to become fully operational in March 2005. This will open a second air-gateway into Cape Verde (besides Sal Island) for direct flights from Europe accommodating mid-sized aircraft (such as Airbus 320 and 319 and Boeing 757, 767 and 737). Flights between Praia and London, Amsterdam or Paris will take a little under 6 hours.
TACV, the national airline, and TAP-Air Portugal, have announced that they plan to operate direct flights between Praia and Lisbon as soon as the new airport is open. An "open skies" policy is now in force, permitting other airlines to fly to Cape Verde thus creating price competition and reducing air fares. Charter airlines such as Volare and Azzura presently connect Milan and Rome with Sal airport. The German charter airline Condor connects Frankfurt with Sal. Air Luxor operates significantly cheaper air fares on its charter flights between Portugal and Sal. These airlines and other charter airlines will no doubt be eager to operate direct flights to Santiago Island in the future once sufficient demand is created with the development of quality tourism accommodation.
A German company has announced that it plans to develop a 150 room 5-Star hotel in the centre of Praia at Cha de Areia and also investors from the Canary Islands have plans to develop a 135 room commercial hotel, also inside of Praia. The existing 4-Star Hotel Tropico, recently acquired by the Portuguese hotel group Pestana, plans to expand the hotel from 51 rooms up to 75 and expansion to 150-rooms and refurbishment of the 4-Star Hotel Praia-Mar has now been completed.