Minister Mkhonta-Simelane Declares Tourism a Pillar for Economic Transformation

The Minister for Ministry of Tourism and Environmental Affairs Jane Mkhonta-Simelane, officially opened the Tourism Industry Workshop at the Happy Valley Hotel on March 23, 2026, marking a pivotal moment for the nation’s travel sector. Addressing industry stakeholders, the Minister celebrated a landmark achievement for the Kingdom, Eswatini recorded over one million international visitor arrivals in 2025, representing a robust 7.5% year-on-year growth.

This performance, the Minister noted, affirms the sector’s successful recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and signals renewed global confidence in Eswatini as a competitive destination.

Strategic Alignment with National Vision
Minister Mkhonta-Simelane emphasised that the current growth trajectory is a central component of the government’s broader economic strategy.

Royal Mandate: The Minister highlighted that this strategic direction aligns with priorities outlined by His Majesty King Mswati III during the February 2026 Speech from the Throne.
Economic Impact: Tourism is officially recognised as a key pillar for economic transformation, job creation, and inclusive growth.
Policy Focus: The government remains anchored on strengthening competitiveness, enhancing data governance, and advancing sustainable, community-based tourism practices.

Regional Strength and Emerging Opportunities
While global recovery remains uneven due to macroeconomic pressures and rising travel costs, Eswatini continues to draw immense strength from its neighbours.

The SADC Connection: The Southern African Development Community remains the primary source of tourism flows, contributing between 88% and 92% of all arrivals.
Domestic Resilience: The Minister praised the stability of domestic and diaspora tourism, which has shown remarkable resilience during peak cultural and festive periods.
Value Capture: A key focus moving forward will be increasing the average length of stay and visitor expenditure, which currently remain below optimal levels.
“This workshop must serve not merely as a platform for reflection, but as a mechanism for policy alignment, stakeholder coordination, and the generation of actionable outcomes,” the Minister stated, urging participants to use empirical evidence to drive the sector forward.

A Data-Driven Future
The workshop featured critical presentations, including the Inbound Tourism Performance 2025 and the Industry Assessment Study. These documents are set to become essential tools for evidence-based policy formulation and national sector planning as Eswatini looks toward a record-breaking remainder of 2026