Responsible tourism helps industry thrive - Acting Minister
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.