Geographic Description

Swaziland is a small, landlocked country surrounded by South Africa to the west, south and north, and bordered by Mozambique the east.  The geography is dominated by hills and mountains.

Tourism Policy Environment

Swaziland’s tourism development is guided by a combination of policy documents, strategies and government departments, namely the:

• National Development Strategy (1999);
• National Tourism Policy (2000);
• Ministry of Tourism and Communication;
• Tourism Department; and
• Swaziland Tourism Authority.

The National Development Strategy (NDS) was completed in 1997 and launched in 1999. The NDS addresses tourism development in Swaziland in the context of national socio-economic development and Swazi empowerment. Smallholder game farming, agro-tourism, eco-tourism and cultural-tourism are viewed as opportunities to increase community participation and empowerment. Investment in and improvement of infrastructure and tourist attractions are identified as primary means by which government should support the tourism sector (Government of Swaziland, 1999)

Tourism development in Swaziland is primarily guided by the National Tourism Policy. The key principles of the Policy are that:

• Tourism development will be private sector driven;
• Tourism development will be managed to ensure sustainability and the conservation of the country’s environment and natural resources;
• Tourism development will promote active Swazi participation in the sector ;
• Tourism development will aim to maximise the opportunities afforded by strategic regional opportunities;
• Swaziland will build on its existing strengths; and
• The Swaziland tourism sector will aim to develop a marketable identity (Government of Swaziland, 2000).

Policy is supplemented by the Ministry of Tourism and Communication and the Department of Tourism, which seek to create an enabling environment for investment, through the creation of public awareness and environmentally friendly usage of [their] national heritage and natural resources (Department of Tourism, 2009). Tourism is increasingly important to the Swazi economy, and focus is increasingly being placed on improving Swazi tourism products, i.e. accommodation, nature reserves, sports, handcraft and art, etc (Ministry of Tourism and Communication, 2009).

Developed in 2003, the Swaziland Tourism Authority (STA) is charged with marketing Swaziland as a tourist destination and developing new products with an emphasis on product diversification.  The STA mandate includes development of community-based tourism, which is seen as critical as employment in other sectors e.g. textiles and agriculture is declining.  Tourism is thus poised to be one of the main growth sectors for the country. In fact, in 2006 Swaziland formulated a Tourism National Development Plan to position the country as a distinctive and preferred tourism destination in southern Africa (Personal Comms., E. Maseko, 2007).

Certification / Award Programmes

NA

TFCAs

Swaziland, Mozambique and South Africa are party to the Lubombo TFCA.