Not everyone agrees. The project will benefit the big bosses of Mozambique. The resort plan envisions building hotels and lodges on the beach to lessen impact on the interior. Tourists would gamble on floating casinos, snorkel in the coral reefs and view ocean wildlife that includes whale sharks and dugongs - sea mammals that prompted mermaid legends. They would travel inland only on wildlife safaris.
Some environmental groups support the idea, subject to strict controls and changes in some plans.