Swaziland Tourism Authority At WTM Africa

Swaziland Tourism Authority exhibits at WTM Africa 2017

The Swaziland Tourism Authority will be showcasing the magnificent offerings that the beautiful Kingdom of Swaziland has to offer at the World Travel Market Africa taking place from 19th to the 21st of April 2017 at the CTICC in Cape Town.

Swaziland is one of the few remaining Executive Monarchies in Africa, embracing and upholding its unique and century-old traditions. This country may be small, but it has a lot to offer its visitors.

What it lacks in size it certainly makes up for with heart, soul and boasts phenomenal business etiquette. Swaziland offers a kaleidoscope of travel opportunities, business ventures and world class accommodation.

Travel professionals, media and fellow exhibitors from all over the world will have the opportunity to engage with the STA as well as its stand partners to gather the necessary information to assist the industry in not only raising the profile of the destination but also increasing the visitor arrivals to the Kingdom.

'The STA have participated at the World Travel Market Africa for a few years and it has always been a huge success for us and our stand partners, as we promote the Kingdom of Swaziland together. It is encouraging to see the interest grow year-on-year, and we look forward to being part of this prestigious event again this year' comments Bongani Dlamini, Marketing Manager.

The World Travel Market delivers the leading global events for the travel industry. One of six shows in the WTM portfolio, the Africa show brings both the benefits and opportunities of the global industry expertise to travel professionals in this region.

Taking place in Cape Town, South Africa, nearly 5000 travel industry professionals attend Africa’s leading and only business to business (B2B) exhibition for inbound and outbound Africa travel and tourism markets.

The Swaziland Tourism Authority (STA) was established by an act of parliament, the Tourism Authority, Act of 2001. It was established as a public enterprise. In terms of the Act the following objectives have been determined for STA;

Develop the tourism sector as a national priority in an environmentally sustainable and culturally acceptable manner,
Coordinate and facilitate the implementation of government policies and strategies on tourism,
Market Swaziland as a tourism destination through the provision of a platform for industry stakeholders,
Encourage, facilitate and promote local and foreign investment in the tourism industry, and
Ensure the contribution of tourism to the socio-economic development and continued improvement of quality of life in the Kingdom of Swaziland

SWAZILAND: Swaziland's Big Game Parks Launches Rhino Song on #WorldRhinoDay

Big Game Parks, a non-profit trust that manages three game reserves in Swaziland, Hlane Royal National Park, Milwane Wildlife Sanctuary and Mkhaya Game Reserve, are proud to announce today on World Rhino Day the release of 'Bhejane' in association with South African Artist Kyle Deutsch.

Please see the following news release from Big Game Parks:

Big Game Parks recognises the synergy between art and conservation – art being a beautiful medium to explore and communicate the conservation message. This strategy began with our 50th celebrations in 2014 with storytelling, poetry and Family Days. Since then we have continued with these themes, working with select local schools and artists.

In February 2016, Big Game Parks was the chosen venue for SA Idols finalist Kyle Deutsch’s music video “Wildside” thanks to Lloyd Orr, Swaziland Tourism Authority’s South African representative company. Kyle fell in love with Swaziland and a new ambassador was born.

Big Game Parks’ dedication to conserving Africa’s Rhino is no secret and the need to embrace a larger audience in a positive way was recognised. What better, more relevant and current inspiration than Rhino?

Building on our existing relationship with BushFire, we commissioned the first ever Rhino song, a dual project between local Swazi artist Mozaik Ngwenya, producer for DJ Qness and the December Streets, and SA’s hit Kyle Deutsch. These two talented artists created a beautifully African song with a powerful message of hope, love and support for the rhino.

First performed at Swaziland’s Bushfire Festival in May 2016, “Bhejane” is a celebration of Rhino, highlighting our commitment to both Rangers and Rhino. Our aim is to spread awareness of the Rhino crisis, to appeal to a broader audience, to inspire a call-to-action and to inspire a call-to-action from those who are less informed; to provide a different perspective for those who are, and finally our aim is to inspire hope for Africa’s Rhino recognising the fact that we, human beings, are the Rhino’s only chance at a positive future. Through this home-grown African song, we aim to instill hope and national, if not continental African pride, with its fabulous mix of emotion, pride, hope and love.

It is a great honour to introduce to you “Bhejane”.

SWAZILAND: Big Game Parks Launches Rhino Song on #WorldRhinoDay

Big Game Parks, a non-profit trust that manages three game reserves in Swaziland, Hlane Royal National Park, Milwane Wildlife Sanctuary and Mkhaya Game Reserve, are proud to announce today on World Rhino Day the release of 'Bhejane' in association with South African Artist Kyle Deutsch.

Big Game Parks recognises the synergy between art and conservation – art being a beautiful medium to explore and communicate the conservation message. This strategy began with our 50th celebrations in 2014 with storytelling, poetry and Family Days. Since then we have continued with these themes, working with select local schools and artists.

In February 2016, Big Game Parks was the chosen venue for SA Idols finalist Kyle Deutsch’s music video “Wildside” thanks to Lloyd Orr, Swaziland Tourism Authority’s South African representative company. Kyle fell in love with Swaziland and a new ambassador was born.

Big Game Parks’ dedication to conserving Africa’s Rhino is no secret and the need to embrace a larger audience in a positive way was recognised. What better, more relevant and current inspiration than Rhino?

Building on our existing relationship with BushFire, we commissioned the first ever Rhino song, a dual project between local Swazi artist Mozaik Ngwenya, producer for DJ Qness and the December Streets, and SA’s hit Kyle Deutsch. These two talented artists created a beautifully African song with a powerful message of hope, love and support for the rhino.

First performed at Swaziland’s Bushfire Festival in May 2016, “Bhejane” is a celebration of Rhino, highlighting our commitment to both Rangers and Rhino. Our aim is to spread awareness of the Rhino crisis, to appeal to a broader audience, to inspire a call-to-action and to inspire a call-to-action from those who are less informed; to provide a different perspective for those who are, and finally our aim is to inspire hope for Africa’s Rhino recognising the fact that we, human beings, are the Rhino’s only chance at a positive future. Through this home-grown African song, we aim to instill hope and national, if not continental African pride, with its fabulous mix of emotion, pride, hope and love.

It is a great honour to introduce to you “Bhejane”.

SWAZILAND: Luphohlo Recreational Park Open

Earlier this month, Swaziland Tourism Authority (STA) ran their official launch of the Luphohlo Recreational Park, and its handing over to various communities in Siphocosini on Saturday April 16, 2016.

The scenic park is strategically located along the northern bank of Luphohlo Dam, and provides excellent view of the dam and mountain ranges beyond. The park, which has already been fenced, has ablution facilities as well as several sitting bays built by STA. Also, a shop that will hire out or sell fishing equipment has also been built at the site.

In an interview on site, while overseeing the final touch ups in preparation for the official opening ceremony presided by the Minister of Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Jabulani Mabuza; STA CEO Eric Maseko said the new venture will have enormous spin-offs for Siphocosini communities.

“This new venture will significantly address current socio-economic problems faced by Siphocosini community. Some of these, and which are generally inherent with many other communities, include the prevalence of HIV, high unemployment, income inequality, and poverty,” said Maseko.

Maseko said the launch of this community-tourism project will create and increase employment opportunities in the community. He said appropriate frameworks that will guide efforts to gender equality and increase opportunities for women and girls’ empowerment will also be put in place.

“This community-run venture will create and expand occupational activities for the youth to encourage positive behavior change in the community, and will also empower arts and craft groups from the area, as we anticipate massive traffic to the area,” said Maseko.

People from surrounding areas, such as Mbabane, as well as from other places, for a long time, have yearned for a scenic leisure place that was away but not far from the urban area, hence the Luphohlo Recreation Park is likely to be an instant hit, said Maseko.

The community approached Maseko about two years ago to assist in the project. The organisation started building facilities last year, and has officially handed over the running of the place to a trust set up by the community.

“As much as we funded the project, the local youth also volunteered their time and assisted in the clearing of the land and erecting of the fence, and we are humbled to see such commitment,” said Maseko.

There were a variety of activities that took place as part of the official launch including fishing, a swimming competition by members of the Swaziland Swimming Association, water games for the public, kiddies’ games, among others. Maseko encouraged members of the community as well as leisure seekers from surrounding areas and cities to attend the event, and witness the birth of a new leisure hotspot in the country.

SWAZILAND: Sense Africa & Traveleyes Take Blind Tourists To Swaziland

In a move unprecedented in the history of the tourism sector in Swaziland, a destination promoter and partner of the Swaziland Tourism Authority (STA), Sense Africa, has successfully courted and brought into the country an organised group of visually-impaired tourists, whose tour was put together by a unique UK-based operator, Traveleyes.

The 15-member group, which had six people with total sight impairment, loosely called ‘blind’, eight sighted tourists who acted as aides and guides, and one official from Traveleyes, spent eight days of adventure and product engagement with Swaziland.

In an interview with local media at Shewula Mountain Camp, in the Lubombo Region, where the group had stopped for lunch, Traveleyes Tour and Operations Manager, Jack Rollason, said his company was founded by Amar Latif 12 years ago, to afford an opportunity to people with visual impairment to travel the world.

“Amar is the founder and director of Traveleyes, the world's first commercial international air tour operator to specialise in serving blind as well as sighted travellers. He lost sight at the age of 18, having developed an incurable eye condition called retinitis pigmentosa. In founding this ground- breaking enterprise, he set out to challenge the assumption that visually impaired travellers should ever have to accept restrictions on their world travel aspirations,” explained Rollason.

Since then, said Rollason, the Leeds-based company has organised and sent tours to Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Ghana, among other countries in the African region, as well as to many other countries in other regions. He described the Swaziland tour as the most thrilling thus far, and spoke fondly of Swazi people.

“Swaziland has been so friendly. It’s got an amazing sense of culture and heritage, and the people are extremely helpful and friendly. One never gets to see this kind of treatment anywhere else in the world, and honestly; it will be hard to beat this tour,” said Rollason, who said they will definitely be considering more similar tours to Swaziland in the near future.

Rollason revealed that his company got to know about Swaziland from STA’s partner, Jenny Bowen of Sense Africa, during last year’s World Tourism Market (WTM) show in London. Bowen is a seasoned holiday and travel planner, and has recommended Swaziland to various tours of a diverse nature.

Last year, she sent a team of English golfers to the country, who were led by Jason Bowen, her brother. The team sampled the country’s golfing courses, played and groomed local golfers, and went on to publish their experiences with their respective audiences back in Europe.

Bowen has also brought into the country groups of UK students, taking a gap year in between completion of their high school and enrolment to tertiary institutions. Last year, she brought a group of girls from St Helen and St Katherine schools, who donated learning facilities to Mgadzi and Njojane communities in Simunye and Sikhuphe respectively.

Local hospitality and tourism establishments have been given a pat on the back by a group of special tourists with visual impairments, for their unparalleled welcome and service excellence.

In separate interviews, the group said all local establishments they went to did extremely well in guiding and making them feel welcome.

“Although most guides from these places professed that they had not guided blind tourists before, they went on to do all the right things at the right time,” said Christine from Germany.

Sarah, from Blackpool in the UK, who lived in South Africa for 32 years, said she never knew Swaziland was this beautiful, and regretted all the time she spent in Africa without visiting the country.

“I’m excited though that I have gotten time to make up for such loss, thanks to Traveleyes. Swaziland is extremely beautiful, and is like nowhere else I’ve ever been. We also thank Sense Africa for ensuring that our itinerary took us to ‘real Africa’ as opposed to ‘tourist Africa’,” she said.

Jo, from Derbyshire in the UK, said Swaziland was without doubt the nicest place she has ever visited.

A UK senior citizen, Paul from South West, said it was his first time in Africa, and was totally blown away by Swaziland’s tranquillity. He described the atmosphere as relaxed and the knowledge gained as fantastic.

Meanwhile, Sense Africa director, Jenny Bowen also extended her gratitude to the establishments for ensuring that the group’s stay in the country was memorable. She outlined the key features of their itinerary, some of which included lodging at Forester Arms Hotel in Mhlamanyatsi, horse-riding at Mlilwane Sanctuary, sunset drive at Hlane Royal National Park, a boat trip at Maguga dam, a visit to a traditional homestead, a visit to Gone Rural and Swazi Candles in Malkerns, a touching visit to St Joseph’s school in Manzini, a visit to the Sangoma, attending a church service at Shewula, among others.


The visually impaired members of the group used all other senses to engage with products at these establishments. She said she was also grateful to Big Game Parks for the amazing assistance from their tour guides.

Meanwhile, the Swaziland Tourism Authority (STA) Marketing Manager, Bongani Dlamini, has expressed his organisation’s gratitude to Sense Africa for their continued engagement and marketing of the country to new and diverse groups of tourists.

Dlamini said Sense Africa work voluntarily in marketing Swaziland as destination to holiday makers throughout the world.

“STA continues to forge similar meaningful partnerships with other tour operators, in the hope of increasing tourist traffic into the country. We are glad that Sense Africa’s commitment to Swaziland has withstood the test of time, and hope to see even more visitors coming to indulge in our promised ‘royal experience’,” said Dlamini.

Dlamini commended Sense Africa director, Jenny Bowen, for ensuring what he termed ‘sustainable tourism’. He said his organisation did not take Bowen’s work lightly.