Tourism in Cape Verde

File:Cape Verde Sal pool.jpg]]

Tourism contributed US$41 million to the country's economy in the year 2000. The hotel industry contributed 2.0% to GDP in 1997, which increased to 6.8% in 2001.{{Citation needed|date=October 2016}} The number of tourists increased from approximately 45,000 in 1997 to more than 115,000 in 2001 and to over 765,000 in 2018 according to the Cape Verdean statistics bureau.{{Citation needed|date=October 2016}} Most of these international arrivals came from the United Kingdom (23.6%), Germany (11.2%), the Low Countries (i.e., The Netherlands and Belgium), France, Portugal, Italy, and other countries. Less than one percent of tourists came from the United States. The vast majority of tourists visit the comparatively flat and less populated islands of Sal,{{cite web|url=https://www.capeverde.co.uk/sal|title=Holidays in Sal – The Cape Verde Islands}} Boa Vista,{{cite web|url=http://www.capeverde.com/islands/boa-vista.html|title=Cape Verde: Island of Boa Vista|publisher=New Media -Servicios de Marketing, Internet e Publicidade Lda.|access-date=17 October 2016}} and Maio with their white sandy beaches.{{Citation needed|date=October 2016}}

The islands of Cape Verde have a pleasant climate during most of the year with 350 days of sunshine, and some of them offer an impressive mountain scenery as well.{{cite book |title=Africa South of the Sahara 2004: South of the Sahara |last=Taylor & Francis Group |year=2003 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=1-85743-183-9 |pages=[https://books.google.com/books?id=jj4J-AXGDaQC&pg=PA190&sig=ACfU3U1tZeLI3gIclj2J-PGiKXufHKg1fA 190] }} Diving, windsurfing, sailing and trekking are available to tourists.{{cite book |title=Worldwide Destinations: The Geography of Travel and Tourism |last=Boniface |first=Brain G. |author2=Christopher P. Cooper |year=2001 |publisher=Butterworth-Heinemann |isbn=0-7506-4231-9 |pages=256 }} Some ecotourism is developing on the islands of São Nicolau, Santiago and Boa Vista.[http://mynatour.org/destination/ecotourism-cape-verde Ecotourism in Cape Verde] For tourists interested in cultural topics, the town of Cidade Velha on the island of Santiago was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1997, but cultural tourism has not been particularly promoted up to now.{{Citation needed|date=October 2016}}

The visa policy of Cape Verde requires visas for tourists from most of the world.{{Cite web|date=2017-04-29|title=Visa Cape Verde Islands - CapeVerdeIslands|url=https://www.capeverdeislands.org/visa/|access-date=2020-08-23|website=CapeVerdeIslands.org|language=en-GB}} Recently however, a visa exemption for European Union citizens,{{CELEX|22013A1024(01)|text=Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Cape Verde on facilitating the issue of short-stay visas to citizens of the Republic of Cape Verde and of the European Union}} citizens of the United States and Canada, and citizens of European countries outside the Schengen Area, has been implemented and took effect on 1 January 2019.{{cite web|url=https://ilhas.li/aF5L|title=Isenção de vistos só em Janeiro do próximo ano|website=Expresso das Ilhas}}{{cite web|url=https://www.dn.pt/lusa/interior/isencao-de-vistos-para-cidadaos-da-ue-entrarem-em-cabo-verde-adiada-para-janeiro-9308725.html|title=Isenção de vistos para cidadãos da UE entrarem em Cabo Verde adiada para janeiro|website=www.dn.pt}}{{cite web|url=https://macauhub.com.mo/2018/01/26/pt-governo-de-cabo-verde-alarga-isencao-de-vistos-para-atrair-investimentos/|title=Cabo Verde government extends visa waiver to attract investments|date=26 January 2018}}

Most guests in tourist accommodation establishments, by country of residence, in 2015:{{cite web |url=http://www.ine.cv/anuarios/Anuario_CV_2015.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=25 January 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160204154412/http://www.ine.cv/anuarios/Anuario_CV_2015.pdf |archive-date=4 February 2016 }}

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• {{cite book |title=Berlitz Pocket Guide Cape Verde |date=2018 |publisher=Berlitz Publishing |isbn=978-1785730627 |edition=3rd. revised}}

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{{Economy of Cape Verde}}

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Cape Verde