...support, promote tourism
SITEKI – Country Director Lisa Zannerini says as an organisation working with communities across the country, Cospe Eswatini is also supporting tourism initiatives aimed at promoting the country’s ecosystem and tourism in rural areas.
Zannerini shared that Cospe in Mozambique, in partnership with ANAC ENTC, had collaborated in the past years to develop the camp and hiking trails, such as the Mhlumeni-Goba cross-border trail, through a project funded by GIZ.
Stakeholders
The director explained that in the frame of the Trans-frontier Conservation Area (TFCA) Programme, different stakeholders collaborated across Eswatini, South Africa and Mozambique, with the aim of empowering local communities through eco-tourism.
She stated that the Goba hiking camp was one of these projects that has been community-led and was owned by the Goba community through the Goba Trust.
Confirmed
She mentioned that the establishment has been confirmed as the first successful TFCA community project by Mandla Makhanya from the ENTC.
Zannerini elaborated that the collaboration was aimed at further supporting the Goba community on their new establishment and stated that the community was presented with a motorbike and bicycle to allow the smooth operation of their business as it was based within the GobaNtavaYedzu Mountain.
“The GIZ SADC in Botswana also had community elated by announcing that the project funding had been extended to the year 2027 in order to support the community as they find their feet. Local travelling agency All Out Africa and SADC-based tourism agency Boundless Southern Africa participated in the hiking and camping activities and have vouched to market the trail and the hiking camp within the tourism industry,” she said.
The director further stated that the hiking trail needed support from all stakeholders as it was aimed at bringing social development and economic opportunities for the local community of Mhlumeni and surrounding areas.