Africa-Press – Eswatini. The country has recorded a total of 9 457 international visitors coming into Eswatini during the Umhlanga weekend between September 2-5.
According to statistics from Eswatini Tourism Authority (ETA) arrivals from the region constituted a larger proportion of regional inbound arrivals with South Africa and Mozambique accounting for over 66.8 per cent and 8.8 per cent respectively. “Eswatini attracted within four days 45 per cent of the total arrivals achieved in 30 days in September 2021,” reads the report.
The report states that the average occupancy rate per day over the four day Umhlanga weekend was 65.8 per cent.
“This figure is higher than the average occupancy rate recorded for the entire month of September 2021, which recorded 32.6 per cent and the occupancy rate was the highest for game or nature reserves with 70.2 per cent, followed by guest houses at 63.6 per cent and lastly hotels at 59.7 per cent,” reads the report.
ETA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Linda Nxumalo affirmed that these figures indicated encouraging developments in the country’s tourism recovery. Nxumalo attributed the arrival of tourists from emerging African markets such as Nigeria and Malawi to Africa Tourism Board’s Africa Soccer Legends Tournament which pulled attendees from different corners of the continent.
Pleased
“We are pleased to see South Africa and Mozambique maintain their position as Eswatini’s highest source markets. We attribute this to the recent familiarisation tour under the TriLand Agreement between the Eswatini Tourism Authority, Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency and Mozambique Tourism Board (INATUR).
This initiative seeks to promote the region as a tourist, trade and investment destination. We commend the tireless efforts made by tour operators who took part in the TriLand creating and selling packages to Eswatini to regional and international tourists,” said Nxumalo.
Nxumalo went on to forecast an increase in arrivals from emerging markets, citing the figures recorded over the Umhlanga weekend.
“We anticipate an increase in tourists from Zimbabwe following the securing of the country as one of the primary routes for the country’s emerging airline, Eswatini Air. We also note that the arrivals from Europe were higher over the four-day period at 1 251 compared to the whole month of September last year, where the country received 521 tourists from the continent,” said Nxumalo.
Visitors couldn’t have chosen a more appropriate time to experience the country as this was the busiest weekend in the year outside of the MTN Bushfire Festival.
The weekend offered a wholesome blend of experiential events, namely the Swazi Rally at Rider’s Ranch in Sidvokodvo, Africa Tourism Board’s African Legends Soccer Tournament and African Carnival at the Mavuso Sports Ground and the Imvelo MTB Classic at Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary, among many others.
These events are known and loved by people from different parts of the world, hence their ability to stimulate tourism in the country.
For More News And Analysis About Eswatini Follow Africa-Press
