….. Visitors increased by 10 000 compared to Feb
BY MBONO MDLULI
MBABANE – Impressive record!
The number of tourists who visited Eswatini in March 2024 has increased by over 10 000 compared to February 2024.
This is according to the March 24 Monthly Tourism Statistical Release produced by Eswatini Tourism Authority (ETA). According to the report, 65 900 tourists arrived in Eswatini in February and 76 391 arrived in March. This shows that the number of tourists who visited Eswatini between February and March 2024 increased by 10 491.
According to the report, 76 391 represents an increase of 23.4 percent, compared to the same month last year.
The tourists came from African countries such as South Africa, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Malawi, and Botswana. Tourists from overseas came from countries such as France, Germany, and the United States of America (USA). Three countries have been identified by the report as being the top three regional markets.
They include South Africa, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe. Tourists from South Africa were 46 469, representing an increase of 15.3 percent, when compared with the same month last year. Tourists from Mozambique were 12 622, representing an increase of 42.3 percent, compared with the same month last year.
Tourists from Zimbabwe were 3 961, representing an increase of 49 percent, compared with the same month last year. Among countries from the top three overseas markets include France, Germany, and the USA. Tourists from France were 1 395, representing an increase of 35 percent, when compared with the same month last year.
Eswatini received 2 088 tourists from Germany, representing an increase of 55.1 percent, when compared with the same time last year, while 998 tourists were from USA, representing a decrease of 11 percent, compared to this time last year. Countries such as Lesotho, Malawi, and Botswana have been identified as the top three emerging markets for Eswatini’s tourism industry. The monthly average length of stay for the tourists during March was 3.6 nights.
