Cape Verde is tipped to be one of the 10 best tourist destinations in the world over the next 10 years, according to a survey carried out by World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC).
The survey, released by several specialized reviews under the title, “Cape Verde on the verge of tourist boom” says that the investments made by several tourist operators are beginning to show positive outcomes, transforming progressively the country into an attractive tourist destination.
WTTC says that the island is being known in Europe as the “European Caribbean” desired by tourists of that continent, because of its beautiful seaside with white sands and cool climate and it is only takes a few hours from Europe.
The data released by WTTC are in accord with the figures on Cape Verde tourist growth released by the National Statistics Institute (INE) which places the island among the future 10 best tourist destinations. The sector has seen an increasing growth since 2000 by more than 115%.
In addition to the beaches, the survey cites the distance, political and social stability as the main assets of Cape Verde.
The survey also reveals the impact of tourism on the Cape Verdian economy, which in 2013, contributed 16.2% to the country’s Gross Domestic Product with the objective rise to 20% by 2024.
Given the positive impact of tourism on employment, the survey says that in 2014, it is expected that 23.3% of jobs in the country would be directly linked to tourist investments, which correspond to 64,000 jobs, as against 32,000 in 2013.