Construction of a golf course complex in Chigamane, in the district of Vilankulo, Inhambane province, got under way on Saturday, 6 November, as part of a project designed to diversify the country's tourism offering, attract international visitors, and generate local employment.

The groundbreaking ceremony was presided over by President Daniel Chapo. According to the Presidency, the development aims to strengthen Vilankulo's appeal as a tourist destination and consolidate its position in both national and international markets.

"The initiative intends to attract tourists from various regions of Mozambique and from countries including South Africa, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, and Zambia, creating conditions to energise the local economy, stimulate business development, and expand the participation of national operators in the tourism value chain," the Presidency said.

The project forms part of the government's strategy to develop golf tourism in Inhambane through the Special Golf Tourism Zone (Zona Especial para o Turismo de Golfe, ZETG), whose regulatory framework was approved in October. The zone encompasses six districts within the province and is designed to attract both domestic and foreign investment.

Established by Decree No. 56/2026, the ZETG aims to transform Inhambane into an "international platform of excellence in golf tourism, high-standard hospitality, sophisticated leisure, and specialised tourism investment", cementing the province's status as Mozambique's "National Tourism Capital and Hub".

The regime provides for fiscal and non-fiscal incentives, access to land reserved for investment, and priority repatriation of dividends for foreign investors. It also includes the Golf Tourism Development Fund (Fundo de Desenvolvimento do Turismo de Golfe, FDTG), earmarked for infrastructure financing, training, international promotion, and community programmes.

Management of the zone has been assigned to the National Agency for the Integrated Development of Tourism (Agência Nacional para o Desenvolvimento Integrado do Turismo, Anditur), which will be responsible for supporting investors and facilitating licensing and financing processes. The Presidency noted that equipment required for the works at Chigamane is already on site.

The investment is expected to create jobs, particularly for young people and women, and to promote professional training, including in English. In July, Inhambane Governor Francisco Pagula told Lusa news agency that the first golf course envisaged a private investment of five million dollars, with a second project also under negotiation.