KZN seeks to build tourism market at Bushfire
MBABANE - Tourism KwaZulu-Natal (TKZN) will be among the thousands of enthusiastic travellers heading to Eswatini’s magnificent Malkerns Valley for its legendary Bushfire Festival this weekend.
In addition to enjoying the region¶s diverse music, culture, crafts and art installations that attract travellers from over 60 different countries, to one of the largest cultural events in the kingdom, 7KZN will be exhibiting the province¶s attractions at the event, with the aim of attracting more regional S$'& and international visi tors to Eswatini¶s neighbouring KwaZulu Natal KZN .
³7he warm welcome of the KZN coastline will be a wonderful contrast to the cold weather of the Malkerns Val ley. +ere visitors can relax in the warm winter sunshine, enjoying some of the most beautiful beaches and wildlife that KZN region has to offer.
Province
µµ:e are showing off the beauty of our province in the spirit of collaboration as dis cussed during the $frica 7rav el Indaba and hope that our countries can work together to not only ensure that visitors to the region can enjoy what our different cultures have to offer but also show residents in S$'& countries that a truly unique tourism experience is close at hand,” said Nhlanhla Khumalo, the $cting &hief Executive 2fficer of 7KZN. 7he distance between Malk erns Valley and KZN¶s closest border post at 3ongola, is just over four hours by road. 7he good news, said Khumalo, is that Eswatini $ir, the national carrier of the Kingdom of Es watini, launched a new direct route between King Mswati III International $irport in the Man]ini 5egion, Eswatini, and King Shaka International $irport in 'urban in May this year. ³7his new route will sig nificantly boost the regional tourism market, with Eswatini being one of our key regional tourism markets and having strong historical and cultural ties with our province. Initially, there will be three flights per week on Mondays, 7hursdays, and Saturdays, but there are already plans to increase the frequency of flights in line with demand. 7hat is why we are working hard to grow tourism linkages between Eswatini and KZN,” he explained.
'uring 0 , Eswatini was second to only Zimbabwe, as the source of the most travel arrivals in Southern $frica, with about 000 people visiting. 'uring 0 , before &2VI' travel restrictions closed Borders, nearly 00 000 travellers visited South $frica from Eswatini, of which . per cent were tourism arrivals and more than per cent vis iting friends and relatives.
Arriving
)or those arriving by road, the immediate tourism attrac tions are the 3ongola Game 5eserve, which is home to four of the Big )ive, as well as hippos and crocodiles and is a birding hotspot and /ake -o]ini, a popular tiger fish ing destination and home to the Shayaman]i house boats. 2ther exhilarating wildlife destinations include the 7embe