MBABANE- Eswatini recorded a 16.3 per cent increase in international visitor arrivals in February 2026, signalling strong recovery momentum in the tourism sector despite global travel pressures.
A total of 84 744 international visitors were recorded during the month, driven largely by improved performance across regional and selected overseas markets.
Africa remained the dominant source market, contributing about 90.5 per cent of total arrivals. Within this, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) accounted for 88.6 per cent of African arrivals, underlining the region’s continued importance to Eswatini’s tourism sector.
A report by the Ministry of Tourism and Environmental Affairs says that the region registered an overall growth of 18.8 per cent, with neighbouring countries leading the surge. Mozambique recorded a 27.7 per cent increase in arrivals, while South Africa posted a 9.9 per cent rise.
It further states that Malawi emerged as the fastest-growing market, with arrivals increasing by 210.3 per cent. Other notable gains were recorded from Tanzania (39.7 per cent), Zimbabwe (36.7 per cent), Lesotho (28.8 per cent), Botswana (15.6 per cent), Zambia (12.8 per cent) and Kenya (10.2 per cent).
The report highlights strengthening intra-African travel demand and growing regional cooperation as key drivers of the sector’s performance.
Beyond Africa, results were mixed. The Asia-Pacific region recorded a 9.9 per cent increase, supported by strong growth from countries such as the Philippines, Taiwan and China. The Middle East registered a 46.5 per cent surge, although this was tempered by geopolitical tensions and travel disruptions.
In contrast, arrivals from Europe declined by 7.9 per cent, with major markets such as Germany, France and the United Kingdom showing reduced travel demand. The Americas also recorded an overall decline of 8.4 per cent, largely due to a drop in visitors from the United States.
The report attributes these declines to rising travel costs, flight disruptions and shifting global travel preferences, with many tourists opting for shorter and more affordable destinations.
Despite these challenges, Eswatini maintained positive growth in the first two months of 2026, recording 177 182 international arrivals, an 11.8 per cent increase compared to the same period last year. The average length of stay also improved slightly to 2.6 nights, indicating growing potential for increased visitor spending.
The findings suggest that while global uncertainties persist, Eswatini’s tourism sector remains resilient, with regional markets continuing to anchor growth.
Minister hails tourism growth milestone
MBABANE- Government will continue strengthening tourism as a key driver of economic growth, following a record of over one million international arrivals in 2025.
Minister for Tourism and Environmental Affairs Jane Simelane made the remarks while officially opening an industry workshop on tourism performance held at Happy Valley Hotel.
She said the milestone reflected a 7.5 per cent year-on-year growth and signalled continued recovery from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. “This performance affirms renewed confidence in Eswatini as a competitive tourism destination,” she said.
The minister, however, cautioned that the recovery remained uneven globally, citing macroeconomic pressures, rising travel costs and changing consumer behaviour as ongoing challenges. She noted that the SADC region remained the primary source of visitors, contributing between 88 and 92 per cent of total arrivals, highlighting the importance of regional cooperation.
Despite the growth in arrivals, she pointed out that key indicators such as average length of stay and visitor spending remained below optimal levels, calling for targeted policy interventions.
Simelane emphasised the importance of domestic and diaspora tourism, describing it as a resilient segment that had provided stability during peak cultural and festive periods. “This segment must be systematically integrated into our national tourism development framework,” she said.
She outlined government’s strategic focus, which includes improving tourism competitiveness, enhancing data systems, promoting community-based tourism and strengthening collaboration between the public and private sectors.
The minister said these priorities were aligned with the national development agenda and guided by the vision outlined by King Mswati III, who has identified tourism as a key pillar for economic transformation and job creation.
She urged stakeholders to use the workshop as a platform for aligning policies and generating practical solutions to sustain growth in the sector. “This engagement must go beyond reflection and result in actionable outcomes that will strengthen the tourism industry,” she said.
The workshop brought together key industry players to review sector performance and chart a path forward for sustainable tourism development in Eswatini.
The Minister for Tourism and Environmental Affairs Jane Simelane. (Pic: Eswatini Tourism Authority)