Tourists swell in same period as unrest
MBABANE – The number of tourists visiting the country has tripled as the kingdom recovers from the political unrest of last year.
In June last year, (swatini made international headlines for the political unrest, which saw countrywide demonstrations, burning of structures and clashes between security forces and protesters. The political unrest had led to the death and inMuries of many people, which negatiYely impacted the tourism industry.
+oweYer, in the same period this year, from June to August, the number of tourists coming into the country has tripled, according to information sourced from the (swatini Tourism Authority (TA , in collaboration with the 'epartment of Immigration.
Period
ArriYals from neighbouring South Africa and 0o]ambiTue were the main source of tourism during this period, with a share of 79.6 per cent 108 521 of total arriYals, followed by =imbabwe with 3.7 per cent 5 077 , 1etherlands with 2.4 per cent 3 265 , )rance with 1.5 per cent 2 001 , 8SA with 1.4 per cent 1 945 and 8. with 1.1 per cent 1 436 .
In the period under reYiew, the 0inistry of Tourism and (nYironmental Affairs, as the authority in promoting and marketing destination (swatini, participated in Yarious marketing initiatiYes which included, among others: Triland excursion, Tour 2perator )amiliarisation Tour, 0aputo /uMu actiYation, 0pumalanga actiYation with /uMu and Swa]i 5ally, 8mhlanga 5eed 'ance, 1edbank ImYelo &lassic, African &arniYal, %ikers, soccer legends football game and other actiYities.
³Tourism in (swatini continued in an upward traMectory towards its pre-pandemic leYels as international arriYals of tourists reached 136 294 in the period June to August 2022, reflecting a 195.9 per cent increase compared to 2021. The ministry continued pursuing its target of (2 million
Yisitors with reYenue of (2 billion by 2025. As such, a continued upward traMectory towards its pre-pandemic leYels was obserYed as international arriYals of tourists reached 136 294 in the period July to September 2022, reflecting a 195.9 per cent increase compared to 2021,´ read the ministry¶s portfolio committee second Tuarter performance.
Growth
'espite the growth in tourist numbers, Yisitations during the period under reYiew remained significantly below the pre-pandemic figure of 318 770, reflecting a decline of -56.4 per cent when compared to 2019.
SeYeral factors are noted as contributing to the acceleration in tourism recoYery.
These comprise relaxation of &2VI'-19 regulations within most source markets, a relatiYely stronger air capacity in comparison with the past two years and the Yarious measures undertaken by (TA to promote (swatini as a preferred destination, such as signed the agreements with regional destination marketing organisations aimed at increasing the number of arriYals, length of stay and tourism expenditures.