BY KWANELE TSABENDZE
MBABANE – Yesterday, Eswatini joined the world in celebrating World Tourism day.
In Eswatini, the celebrations were championed by Eswatini Tourism Authority (ETA), United Nations World Tourism Organisation and the Hospitality and Tourism Association of Eswatini (HOTAES). The theme for this year’s World Tourism Day was ‘Rethinking Tourism’.
There were several numerous celebratory activities leading up to the actual World Tourism Day. The official World Tourism Day event was held at the Eswatini Institute of Management and Public Administration in Matsapha.
According to a statement from the ETA, Eswatini’s interpretation of ‘Rethinking Tourism’ manifested in a concerted focus on youth empowerment through a Tourism Youth Forum on Development.
The forum was hosted by the ETA in recognition of the pivotal role that young people play in carving a sustainable and successful future of tourism in the country. At the heart of the presentations and discussions had on the day was a forward-looking engagement with where tourism is going, where we want it to go and establishing how we get there.
The statement adds that the forum was aimed at capacitating the youth on existing job and funding opportunities, as well as business prospects that they can pursue within the tourism sector. The forum was also a networking platform for young people looking to venture into tourism. The young people present were invited from the Limkokwing University of Technology and the Eswatini College of Technology studying towards tourism disciplines.
Speakers who inspired the youth and other industry players included Chairperson of the Southern Africa Tourism Services Association (SATSA) South Africa, Oupa Pilane.
“Within tourism lies opportunities for young people to make a tangible difference in Eswatini. The tourism value chain demonstrates the need for a diverse range of specialised practitioners in marketing, content creation, transport, retail and accommodation, amongst many others. These are areas that the youth can exploit,” Pilane said.
The forum also included presentations from different players in the industry, like financiers, marketers, and enterprise development consultants. Some of the presenters were ETA’s research department, Small Enterprises Development Company (SEDCO), Yati Marketing, the Regional Development Fund (RDF) and the Youth Enterprise Revolving Fund (YERF).
Speaking at the commemoration, Minister of Tourism and Environmental Affairs Moses Vilakati said that we are at an exciting time in tourism as we witness and work towards the cautious reawakening of the sector.
“This week, the UNWTO World Tourism Barometer released a report indicating that international tourist arrivals almost tripled in January to July 2022, signifying a 172% growth compared to the same period of 2021,” the Minister revealed.
“As a sector that has been identified as a strategic pillar in Eswatini’s economic recovery strategy, we recognise that our new target to welcome 2 million visitors to Eswatini and generate E2 billion in tourism receipts annually by 2025, will not be achieved without the youth’s participation and creative contribution. It is this spirit that has inspired the renewed focus on working with local tour operators in packaging Eswatini’s dynamic and diverse tourism offerings. Most tour operators in the country are young people who made the decision to serve their country by actively promoting it and unearthing its hidden gems for the domestic and regional market to enjoy,” added Minister Vilakati.
Eswatini’s stature as a tourist destination was commended by the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Eswatini, George Wachiri. “In our majestic Eswatini, tourism accounts for 2.8% of total GDP. Given the warm-nature of its people, low crime rates in comparison to neighbouring countries, spectacular landscapes and sceneries, venturesome game parks, numerous festivals and cultural richness, Eswatini prides itself as an exceptionally beautiful, exciting and safe tourist destination,” Wachira said.
