In 2020 we started reporting on the proposed Little Africa Maio project. This is an ambitious project for the island of Maio. The proposals described were for a development that would include museums, exhibition halls, theatres, casino, shops, congress centre, international business centre, private hospital, international college and a tourist resort. The total cost was estimated to be around €500m and would create approximately 2000 jobs during the construction and 8000 once fully completed and operational. The whole development was aimed at the top end of the tourist market.
In addition to this, it was reported that there were plans to build an international airport on Maio. The existing airport can only handle small domestic flights. The provision of an international airport was considered an essential requirement for the Little Africa Maio project to be viable.
Since those first reports, there have been occasional mentions of this project. However, it is not clear whether the scheme is likely to go ahead in the same format as previously described. In April 2025, RTC (Radio Television Cape Verdean) did report that the first phase, comprising 2000 rooms was expected to be completed in 2026. There does not appear to have been much more by way of an update on progress.
Maio has long been popular with visitors because of its relative simplicity and low-scale tourist offer. Some people are concerned that these proposals will spoil the island that they love so much. Of course providing employment and a good quality of life for the islanders is important. But for some people the scale of this proposed development is a concern. The development has been publicised as a sustainable project, specifically because Maio has Biosphere status. It is important that the natural environment of Maio is conserved and the unique character of the island is not destroyed.
[21 May 2025]
