O impacto do turismo na diplomacia cultural: construindo pontes entre Angola, Zâmbia, Namíbia, Zimbabue e Botsuana no contexto da África Austral

This article analyzes the impact of tourism as an instrument of cultural diplomacy among Angola, Zambia, Namibia, Zimbabwe, and Botswana, within the context of regional integration in Southern Africa. It is based on the premise that cross-border tourism can strengthen cultural ties, recover shared memories, and promote common values among historically connected peoples fragmented by colonial borders. The research adopts a mixed-methods approach, with a quantitative predominance, grounded in theoretical review and empirical analysis based on surveys administered to local actors. The findings demonstrate that cultural tourism goes beyond its economic role, serving as a symbolic vector of reconnection, identity expression, and regional cooperation. Initiatives such as cultural festivals, integrated tourist routes, and cross-border heritage projects emerge as key mechanisms for a diplomacy that is closer to communities, fostering cohesion and mutual understanding. It is concluded that, beyond economic benefits, tourism holds strategic potential to consolidate a sustainable African cultural diplomacy centered on local cultural dynamics.