Beware of ‘BOGUS’ Travel agents- ETA warns

By Delisa Magagula

The Eswatini Tourism Authority (ETA) has issued a stern warning to the public about bogus travel agents operating in the Kingdom, urging travellers to confirm credentials before making payments.

Speaking in an interview, Chunkie Dlamini, Head of Marketing at ETA, said recent increases in complaints about fake travel organisers particularly on social media platforms have prompted the authority to educate consumers on how to protect themselves.

“People get excited and forget to vet because they want to save money,” Dlamini said, noting that some travellers pay deposits or full amounts without confirming whether the business is legitimate.

“We didn’t know about the recently arrested travel agent who robbed Emaswati until after the complaints came in,” she said, referring to the ongoing case involving a travel organiser currently facing fraud allegations.

Worth noting Thandeka Mamba (33), from Mangwaneni, Mbabane is accused of defrauding 17 people, primarily bank employees, of roughly E174 260 by claiming she would organise and pay for a luxury cruise trip to Durban.

The group paid full amounts in advance for the cruise, transport and logistics. Upon arrival in Durban, they discovered the promised cruise and arrangements were never booked. Mamba allegedly disappeared, leaving them stranded and out of pocket.

She appeared in the Manzini Principal Magistrate’s Court and was granted bail set at E87 130, with conditions including surety and regular court appearances. Police are continuing to investigate the matter, and the case is due back in court as the prosecution prepares for trial.

Meanwhile, ETA is distinguishing between travel agents, tour operators and tour guides, stressing that each has a specific role in the tourism value chain.

Dlamini said, Travel agents generally sell travel products and must be registered, while tour operators design and package travel experiences. Tour guides, on the other hand, are individuals licensed to conduct guided visits but do not handle bookings or financial transactions.

Dlamini advised the public to confirm registration status with ETA before paying any travel service provider.

“Don’t pay before vetting and finding out if they are registered,” she said. Unregistered operators, she warned, may not provide legitimate services and could disappear with clients’ funds.

Despite the warnings, the authority expressed support for young entrepreneurs entering the tourism sector.

“As ETA we encourage it because these are young people and it creates jobs because it brings people,” Dlamini said, while reiterating the need for regulatory compliance.

The Head of Marketing further said that outbound travel agents that organise travel outside Eswatini are becoming more common, especially on TikTok and Facebook and not all adhere to registration and ethical standards.

“Inbound travel services, which facilitate visitor experiences within Eswatini, have not shown similar issues, according to the authority,” said Dlamini.