DULLSTROOM, Mpumalanga – Despite the overwhelming majority of international visitors to the MTN Bushfire Festival hailing from South Africa and Mozambique, the Eswatini Tourism Authority (ETA) is pushing for greater innovation from tour operators to fully capitalise on the Triland initiative.
An impressive 82.5 per cent of the approximately 18 000 international visitors to the 18th MTN Bushfire Festival came from Mozambique and South Africa. This figure, according to ETA CEO Vusi Dlamini, is a direct result of Triland, a collaborative effort by Eswatini, Mozambique and South Africa’s Mpumalanga Province to jointly promote their unique travel offerings.
Packages
Dlamini said that these numbers stress the need for the three countries to further collaborate and create more diverse travel packages. He encouraged Triland partners to attend the recently launched FNB Golf Cup 2025 in Eswatini, suggesting that tour operators consider a tri-country golfing package. He confidently asserted such a package would significantly boost tourism revenue.
“As a golfer myself, I know that generally you spend six hours golfing; after that, what you want is a good meal and rest,” he explained. A well-designed golf package, he argued, could, therefore, be key to increasing visitor nights in the country, aligning perfectly with Triland’s objectives and ETA’s target to increase the length of stay. Dlamini believes it is now the time for tour operators to be more creative and improve their packages to be diverse and appealing. Dlamini was speaking during a welcome dinner at the Dunkeld Equestrian Estate in Mpumalanga, marking the third leg of the Triland Excursion 2024/2025. The excursion was attended by seven tour operators, five media houses and executives from each of the three partner countries.
Mpumalanga demands return on investment from operators
Meanwhile, Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency (MTPA) Chairperson Victor Mashego issued a stern warning to the tour operators present. “This is not a vacation, but an initiative to improve the tourism industry and job empowerment,” Mashego asserted. “We expect to see return on investment in three months.
This is government money that we used to arrange this excursion so you can experience these unique offerings firsthand to be in a position to create and sell tour packages. But more than all, we expect to see you become millionaires and employ more people to promote the tourism industry,” he explained, outlining their expectations. It should be noted that the Triland excursion is an all-expense paid trip for tour operators and media, with the hosting partner country covering all expenses. This is to ensure that tour operators not only experience the destinations and activities but also network with partner countries for linkages. Justus Mohlala, the CEO of MTPA, encouraged the tour operators to ‘soldier on’ and elevate tourism in the Triland Region.
Destination
“The reason we brought you here to a place known as Emakhazeni is to help you explore and experience a different destination, an escape from the hot Lowveld,” he explained. Mohlala cautioned that if tour operators offer the same packages, affluent travellers may seek new experiences elsewhere.
Immy Serakalala, the Head of Economic Development and Planning under MTPA, praised Eswatini for its warm hospitality. “Do you know how we refer to Eswatini here in Mpumalanga? KaGogo! Because that is where we are most welcomed and it’s full of warmth,” she revealed, echoing the affectionate nickname which translates to ‘grandmother’s place’ and encapsulates the kingdom’s welcoming spirit.
Serakalala acknowledged that South Africa has faced negative perceptions regarding xenophobia. However, she emphasised that in Mpumalanga, xenophobia is not present because Mozambique, Eswatini and Mpumalanga are interconnected by their culture and heritage. “You can find a Dlamini in all these regions and this is the region where you can freely speak vernacular: Xitsonga in Mozambique, and Siswati in both Mpumalanga and Eswatini.” She also revealed that Mpumalanga is ranked second in international tourism in South Africa, a success she lauded to the Triland partners, Eswatini and Mozambique.
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