SAIMSA 2026 SPARKS ACCOMMODATION RUSH ACROSS ESWATINI

By Ntokozo Zwane

Eswatini’s tourism and hospitality sector is experiencing a surge in accommodation demand as preparations intensify for the 2026 Southern Africa Inter-Municipal Sports Association (SAIMSA) Games. Scheduled to take place from September 20 to 25, 2026, the regional sporting event is expected to attract between 7,000 participants, including municipal employees and officials from 50 to 60 municipalities across Southern Africa.

Delegations from South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho, Zambia, and host nation Eswatini will converge for a week of sporting competition, networking, and cultural exchange. The games will be staged across several key destinations, including Mbabane, Manzini, Matsapha, Malkerns, and Ezulwini, placing these tourism hubs at the centre of regional attention.

With just weeks to go before the opening ceremony, accommodation providers are already reporting high occupancy levels. The SAIMSA 2026 Local Organising Committee (LOC) says several hotels have reached full capacity due to the overlap of other major events taking place in Eswatini during the same period.

In response, the LOC has issued a public appeal to hotels, guesthouses, lodges, bed-and-breakfast establishments, serviced apartments, and private property owners along the Manzini-Mbabane corridor to make any available accommodation known ahead of the influx of visitors.

Beyond providing lodging, the organisers view the event as an opportunity to showcase Eswatini’s renowned hospitality while generating meaningful economic benefits for local businesses.

Increased visitor spending is expected to support accommodation providers, restaurants, transport operators, retail outlets, and tourism attractions, reinforcing the country’s reputation as a welcoming destination for regional events.

The organising committee has also expressed appreciation to establishments that have already partnered with participating municipalities by opening their facilities to visiting delegations. Their early support, officials say, has been instrumental in ensuring the successful planning of the games.

Accommodation providers with available rooms are encouraged to contact SAIMSA 2026 LOC Chairperson Wandile Mazibuko or SAIMSA 2026 Spokesperson Colile Zwane to assist in accommodating the remaining delegations.

As anticipation builds, the SAIMSA Games promise to deliver more than sporting excellence. They are expected to strengthen regional cooperation, boost tourism, and create valuable business opportunities, further positioning Eswatini as a preferred destination for international sporting and business events. With visitor numbers rising, the countdown has begun for one of the Kingdom’s most significant regional gatherings of 2026.