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SIDVOKODVO – This year’s Swazi Rally will be held on September 1. The news was announced by the Ministry of Tourism and Environmental Affairs Moses Vilakati yesterday.

/ast year’s Swa]i Rally event was held on August 3 until September 3 at Riders Ranch. This year’s biking event is aimed at raking in more numbers in terms of attendance as the organisers announced that they will be e[pecting to host visitors from overseas.

Carlos 3aiva who is one of the organisers shared that this year they have undertaken to support young entrepreneurs and artists, as well as create Mob opportunities prior to, and during the event.

“During the past Swa]i Rally we have been able to make a difference in young peoples’ lives as well as in the community that surrounds us. Through the :omen Farmer Foundation, over 3000 women have been assisted by the foundation in terms of getting opportunities to better their lives.

“Even this year bikers will continue to have a charitable mindset as we have some programmes that are in the pipeline which are aimed at giving back to the community as well as developing the lives of young people. The rally is an event which is inclusive of all of emaSwati, so this year let us all come in our numbers and have fun,” 3aiva said.

9ilakati said that the

Swa]i

Rally

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MBABANE – Before and during the Swazi Rally, Motor Vehicle Accident fund will be running a campaign to educate the local community about road safety measures.

According to the Claims Officer at Sincephetelo Motor 9ehicle Accidents Fund Dumisa Dlamini, this will help sensitise the local community on the importance of preventing accidents that may happen during the event.

“This year we will have a road safety campaign for awareness and visibility on the road. This programme will be implemented in selected schools because it has been noted with great concern that young people are not aware of pedestrians, motorists and motorcyclist’s behaviours,” Dlamini said.

has been one of the local events which have had a reputation for attracting massive tourists into the country therefore more investments should be channelled to hotels.

Hosted

“/ocally we have very few hotels this is seen during these festivals and events that are hosted in the country. This presents us with a task where we have to

Some of the Swazi Rally organisers with Minister of Tourism and Environmental Affairs Moses Vilkakati as well as the local tourism team after the launch at Riders Ranch. (INSET) Minister Vilakati being given a lesson on one of the bikes that were on display during the launch. involve relevant ministries to establish more hotels in the country so that our tourists cannot find themselves without accommodation when they visit us.

“:e pray that this year’s Swa]i Rally will be a success without any accidents being reported. , would also like to appreciate the donations that you make during the event.

“, am aware that bikers during the rally would visit hospitals and schools in the country where they leave donations. This is tremendous work which is being noticed as this event helps make an impact to the needy and least affording,” the minister said.

“Statistics gathered for the first quarter of 2023, which is the period between January and March, reveal that Eswatini saw a 3 . per cent increase in international arrivals having recorded

2. This is 03 visits more than the figure recorded in the same months in 2022. This is tremendous news for the tourism industry and is no small feat. :e attribute this to events such as Swa]i Rally and the MTN Bushfire Festival which will be taking place this weekend as they add much welcome diversity and range to Eswatini tourism product offering. :e are delighted to see the Swa]i Rally grow from strength-to-strength and e[pand its appeal to markets. :e have seen the Swa]i Rally grow from pooling together a small community of bikers to drawing crowds from all over SADC region and others from as far as overseas,” added the minister.