Globalisation makes the world seem smaller, gives us the feeling that we are all very close to one another, and that everything, or at least almost everything, is within reach. This absence or lessening of barriers between countries is driven by the development of transport (aeroplanes, trains, cruise ships…) and advances in information technology. The internet, which has become one of the icons of globalisation, has given rise to this hyperconnected world, which operates in real time and shares information and experiences instantly. All of this creates greater interaction and integration between people, companies and governments.
We have become a global village, which has stimulated international tourism even further. People's desire to see new places, different from the usual ones, has grown significantly, and motivations are also diversifying, which has led to the development of various types of tourism, such as cultural, rural, health, exchange, business, sport, adventure, sun and beach, ecotourism, among others.
Mozambique is famous for sun-and-beach tourism and is also extremely rich in historical and cultural tourism, although the latter is not yet as well exploited as beaches and safaris. Tourists from different countries arrive every year to enjoy the beauty and richness of Mozambican soil, and, thanks to globalisation, over the past 10 years the number of international arrivals rose from 1,193,000 in 2008 to 2,743,000 in 2018, that is, more than doubled, setting the highest record, with revenue of 241.8 million dollars.
With globalisation bringing with it a constant consumption of international information and culture and a growing number of tourists, we need to accept cultural hybridity, and indeed we have no way to escape it. The exchange and mixing of cultures always ends up leaving a mark on Mozambican culture and influencing our ways of life. It waters us with new perspectives, makes us more tolerant and less ignorant of what is not ours, opening space for positive coexistence and new knowledge. In fact, globalisation is not a choice; it is a reality, and transformation is inevitable. However, let us never lose what defines us, our values, our soul. May we always bear in mind that much of what is ours is good. And may we always take pride in that.
