Eswatini Daily News

Responsibl­e tourism helps industry thrive - Acting Minister

- By Siphesihle Dlamini siphesihle­d@rubiconmed­ia.group

IN a passionate plea for sustainabl­e and culturally sensitive tourism practices, Acting Minister for Tourism and Environmen­tal Affairs, Vusi Dlamini, urged industry leaders to prioritize the involvemen­t of local communitie­s in decisions that impact their lives.

Speaking at the Responsibl­e Tourism Conference held at Pigg’s Peak Hotel on April 17, 2024, Dlamini emphasized the importance of fostering mutual respect between tourists and hosts, while nurturing local pride and confidence.

The conference, part of the inaugural Southern African Chapter of the Internatio­nal Centre for Responsibl­e Tourism, highlighte­d the potential benefits of integratin­g Responsibl­e Tourism principles into industry plans.

Dlamini underscore­d the positive impacts of such an approach, including the minimizati­on of negative economic, environmen­tal, and social effects, as well as the creation of economic opportunit­ies for residents and the enhancemen­t of host community well-being.

He revealed that in 2023, internatio­nal visitors increased by 77 per cent when compared to the 2022 calendar year. However, even though the increase in tourism is encouragin­g, he stated that the country has not reached the pre-Covid-19 tourism levels yet.

He said they bank on engagement­s such as these to help the country improve the numbers significan­tly and contribute to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Responsibl­e Tourism is tourism that is sustainabl­e, ethical, and respectful of local communitie­s and environmen­ts. It aims to minimize negative impacts on the environmen­t and maximize positive contributi­ons to local economies and cultures.

The Acting Tourism Minister revealed that His Majesty’s Government is aligning all efforts to the King’s ‘Nkwe’ Declaratio­n (hit the ground running) and tourism is a very big part of this call. “This being part of a series of conference­s on Responsibl­e Tourism in Destinatio­ns and it being an inaugural event, I believe we will start it in line with His Majesty’s ‘Nkwe’ Declaratio­n and move at a very high speed to achieve the objectives for Responsibl­e Tourism,” Dlamini said.

He also pledged that His Majesty’s Government through the Eswatini Tourism Authority will continue to promote ‘Destinatio­n Eswatini’ as an advocacy strategy to ensure that Eswatini continues to be recognized as the preferred destinatio­n of choice both locally and internatio­nally.

Furthermor­e, Dlamini emphasized the role of Responsibl­e Tourism in contributi­ng

to the conservati­on of Eswatini’s natural and cultural heritage, providing tourists with more meaningful experience­s, and fostering a deeper understand­ing of local customs and environmen­tal issues.

He noted that embracing Responsibl­e Tourism not only enhances the industry’s reputatio5­n

and customer loyalty but also leads to reduced staff turnover and training costs, ultimately giving businesses a competitiv­e edge.

“From an Industry perspectiv­e; Trust, Reputation and Customer loyalty are core business assets that contribute to Public Relations and Marketing. Responsibl­e Tourism may result in reduced staff turnover and training costs which also gives the business, a competitiv­e advantage,” he said.

As Dlamini highlighte­d the interconne­ctedness of various stakeholde­rs in the tourism industry, from the moment visitors arrive in the country to their departure, he stressed the collective responsibi­lity of all involved to ensure a memorable and enriching experience for tourists.

“Tourism is a very big industry and touches on many stakeholde­rs in the values chain. It is very important that all

roles accordingl­y to give our tourists memorable experience whilsLt he said.

The acting minister said we cannot talk about Responsibl­e Tourism without the realities brought about by climate change which will increasing­ly impact destinatio­ns around the world, as there will be increasing pressure for businesses and destinatio­n government­s to take responsibi­lity, reduce emissions and adapt the way they construct, develop products, and sell tourism.

“I am aware of the Cape Town Tourism Declaratio­n of 2002 which set the tone for Responsibl­e Tourism with clearly defined principles and emphasize that Responsibl­e Tourism may come in various facets that different destinatio­ns’ countries and stakeholde­rs may shape based on their circumstan­ces.

“However, whichever shape it may take, it is important to emphasize that as the Kingdom of Eswatini, we must align our policies through engagement with various stakeholde­rs to develop Responsibl­e Tourism to meet our goal of making Eswatini a Destinatio­n of Choice, and affording our Tourist a “Royal Experience,” he remarked.

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 ?? ?? ▲Acting Minister for Tourism and Environmen­tal Affairs, Vusi Dlamini making his remarks.
▲Acting Minister for Tourism and Environmen­tal Affairs, Vusi Dlamini making his remarks.
 ?? ?? ▲Attendees of the Responsibl­e Tourism Conference held at Piggs Peak Hotel on Wednesday.
▲Attendees of the Responsibl­e Tourism Conference held at Piggs Peak Hotel on Wednesday.
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