By Delisa Thwala
Minister of Tourism and Environmental Affairs Jane Mkhonta-Simelane has said the Nkwe declaration is a significant initiative by the Eswatini Government as it underscores its commitment to sustainable development across various sectors.
This is contained in the latest Eswatini Tourism Authority (ETA) newsletter.
The Minister said this declaration reiterates aspirations outlined in Eswatini’s National Development Plan 2023-2028 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework 2021-2025.
By harmonising national goals with these frameworks, Eswatini aims to foster collaboration and drive positive change in tourism and other vital areas.
“Eswatini Government’s Nkwe! Declaration is expected to set the course for Eswatini’s tourism sector, with the appointment of Vusi Norman Dlamini as the new CEO of ETA sparking a wave of optimism within the industry.
Early indications suggest a strong focus on collaboration as a key driver to stimulate inbound travel demand, sustained revenue growth and improved livelihoods,” she said.
She further explored how Nkwe’s vision might align with the collaborative tourism initiative, citing potential areas of collaboration in Nkwe’s declaration.
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Collaboration is an imperative and a crucial success factor for the sector’s sustained growth.
The inherent nature of tourism is that it is not an industry as such but a collection of interrelated industries characterised by robust economic linkages with other financial sectors.
This then compels entities such as the ETA to prioritise forming and operationalising existing collaborative networks across industries and destinations.
“ Areas for improved collaborative systems include Public-Private Partnerships; forging strong partnerships between the ETA, private tourism businesses, local communities, and conservation organisations is crucial.
Such collaboration leads to effective marketing campaigns, joint destination development projects, and the creation of sustainable tourism experiences,” said the Minister.
She also mentioned Community-Based Tourism, which seeks to empower local communities through tourism initiatives, a win-win scenario.
The aim is to advocate for supporting community-owned lodges, craft markets, and cultural experiences, ensuring local communities benefit directly from tourism and become active stakeholders in its success. This, in turn, has the potential to create community-based employment and improve livelihoods in those communities.
The Minister also touched on Cross-Border Collaboration and said Eswatini’s tourism industry stands to flourish through collaborations with neighbouring countries in Southern Africa.
“ The development of regional tourism packages, promoting multi-destination itineraries and working together on joint marketing efforts to attract international visitors.
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It also emphasises the importance of ensuring smooth movement of tourists through the ports of entry, hence the need for all border-based stakeholders to play their role in giving a royal experience to our travellers,” she said.
Meanwhile, there is also Sustainability Collaboration, where Sustainable tourism practices are no longer an option but a necessity.
The primary is the need for Eswatini to be recognised as a sustainable tourist destination, steered by tourism products that are globally certified with green destination standards.
Thus, Nkwe’s declaration advocates for demonstrated leadership in the journey towards an eco-destination and ongoing collaboration among stakeholders in the tourism sphere.
