MBABANE – The Eswatini Tourism Authority (ETA), together with relevant event organisers from the Kingdom of Eswatini, successfully launched the country’s events calendar in Mozambique on Monday.
The aim of the event was to reaffirm and remind Mozambicans that the Kingdom of Eswatini stands ready, to welcome visitors for an experience of its world-renowned, unique and diverse tourism offerings.
The Eswatini Ambassador to Mozambique, Mlondi Dlamini, said the first of August marks the genesis of the peak season in the tourism industry.
“During this time, the weather is warmer and this appeals to our national, regional and international community for a much-deserved break in the kingdom. Eswatini is able with the support and in the spirit of the Triland Agreement which continues to inspire concerted, calculated and creative efforts to promote the Eswatini-Mpumalanga-Mozambique route as a regional destination of choice,” he said.
Nationally, there is a list of anticipated hive of activities, which include Umhlanga (Reed Dance) Ceremony, The International Trade Fair, the Swazi Rally, King’s Golf Cup Tournament, Mlawula Campfire Festival, Imbube Marathon, Eswatini Farmers Market and Swazi Polo, among others.
The ETA expects an influx of tourists into the Kingdom of Eswatini as well as the local community who have diligently supported these events over the years.
Dlamini also went into the latest tourism arrival reports for the Kingdom of Eswatini, which consistently show that South Africa and Mozambique are the highest contributors to visitor numbers. “This trend is a long-standing one, reflecting the country’s strategic location and its role as a key destination within the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region. For instance, the ETA June Statistics indicate that international visitor arrivals to the kingdom totalled 96 152 and strong growth was observed from several regional markets such as Mozambique and Zimbabwe.
Mozambique continued its impressive performance, recording 22 843 visitors, an increase of 30.9 per cent visitors. This surge was supported by Mozambique’s robust demand 50.4 per cent for holiday travel and while 10.1 per cent visited their friends and relatives in the country and 12.2 per cent for medical reasons in Eswatini,” he said.
Dlamini went on to state that for that reason, it is imperative that the ETA consistently visits Mozambique every year to update them on the exciting and enticing advancements within the sector, as well as the evolving catalogue of tourism products and events that appeal to the Mozambican market.
“As I conclude, this activation of the Eswatini Events Calendar and the advancement of the Triland initiative are not just a diplomatic formality. They are a strategic investment in our shared future. They are a commitment to turning our borders from barriers into bridges, our cultures from distinct identities into a harmonious symphony and our shared challenges into collective opportunities. Together, we are building a more prosperous, peaceful and sustainable future for all of us in this remarkable corner of Southern Africa,” ended Dlamini.
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