September is world tourism month SEPTEMBER 2013 - VOLUME 26 Pelepele rocks Europe
Environment meets culture, trade on Tourism Month Ever wondered why September is regarded as a very significant month in the global tourism calendar? It is because September is when the world commemorates World Tourism Month, with the 27th marked as World Tourism Day. The theme is Tourism and Water: Protecting our Common Future. With a theme like that, there is every reason why countries should go out of their way to promote water conservation, as water is a precious resource that should be cherished by all and thus used sparingly. What this basically means is that as you visit that hotel, try to use water sparingly. Do not swim in that bathtub and if you can, rather use the shower. You will be amazed how much water you will be saving. But here is another reason why September is such an important month for Swaziland tourism. It is the month where we not only celebrate the Umhlanga Reed Dance ceremony but also commemorate Swaziland's independence. It is also a month where our organisations, corporate entities and small and medium enterprises converge at the Mavuso Trade and Exhibition Centre to exhibit their products, during the annual Swaziland International Trade Fair. The Trade Fair has, over the years, moved from being just an exhibition event but has also incorporated talent from within and outside Swaziland. Check the list of artists in this year's line-up in our inside pages. Bongani Dlamini STA Marketing Manager Coming back to Umhlanga, this event can befittingly be given the status of Swaziland's leading cultural event. It does not only define our identity as a nation but also allows our girls to celebrate their youth and re-commit themselves to upholding their moral values. On the 2nd of this month, over 100 000 maidens are expected to gather at Ludzidzini Royal Residence and get united in song and in dance before Their Majesties. It's an event that is always cherished by our maidens as it is where they celebrate their purity. On that score, the Swaziland Tourism Authority in conjunction with the Swaziland National Trust Commission will continue to man our Swazi Village for the entire duration of the Reed Dance. This year, we have gone out of our way to ensure that tourists get to buy our traditional regalia and appreciate products woven and made by our Swazi women. We have engaged the mother body of handicraft vendors SWIFT and Standard Traders to display their wares. On another note, this month we will be celebrating the progress made in the development of our draft product development and marketing strategy, which was officially validated at the George Hotel in Manzini last month. This strategy, put in the words of our Chief Executive Officer, will chart the way forward for the country's tourism sector. Lastly, I would like to congratulate the Pelepele Dance Troupe for flying the country's flag high during their ongoing European tour. See inside for pictures of the group performing in Spain. Till next month, have a fabulous tourism month. 2
STA unveils draft marketing strategy strategy seeks to usher the way for tourism growth in the country for the next five years," Maseko said. He further implored industry players to make their contributions on the strategy through the organisation's website, www.thekingdomofswaziland.com. "We seek your input in the design of a road map the country will follow for the coming five years. We want to say judge us on these proposed activities. I believe that if the outcome is to have a real impact, we must secure the support of stakeholders both inside and outside the tourism industry, Gover nment and elsewhere, not only for the strategy recommendations but also for their implementation. "Doing so will require giving the stakeholders an opportunity to engage meaningfully with the process. I believe this is the best way to ensure a robust, wellfounded, workable outcome that will make a difference to the longt e r m c o m p e t i t ive n e s s a n d strength of the country's tourism sector," the CEO said. The Swaziland Tourism Authority last month introduced a draft tourism and marketing development strategy to owners of tourism establishments in the country. The Strategy was unveiled by the Managing Director of Tourism Strategy Company David Frost, who was engaged by the Commonwealth Secretariat in November 2012. Industry stakeholders welcomed the strategy. Also present were chairperson of the STA Board Zachariah Dlamini and Alana Clayton, the Head of Contracting and Packaging at Thompsons Africa. Clayton made a presentation on the tourism packaging toolkit, using her organisation as a reference point. Speaking at the validation of the Strategy at the George Hotel in Manzini, STA Chief Executive Officer Eric Maseko said the Strategy would take STA to a higher level. He said the Government of Swaziland had identified tourism as a sector with a potential to grow the economy. However, Maseko noted, there was need to introduce a number of measures to exploit this potential. 3 "This draft product development and marketing
SD has huge trade, tourism potential - Frost 4 The Managing Director of Tourism Strategy Company Zulu Natal makes the country easily accessible and David Frost has said the kingdom of Swaziland has noticeable," Frost said. immerse potential in terms of position itself, particularly in trade and tourism across our borders. He added that the country also boasted of good quality roads, an exemplary rhino conservation record, a range of Presenting the country's draft product development and adventure activities including white water rafting, caving marketing strategy to industry captains at the George Hotel and quad trails and a wonderful events programme, including last month, Frost said Swaziland's strengths included its rich the annual Bushfire Festival. Moreover, Frost said, putting culture and a safe environment which offers a feeling of Swaziland at an advantage was its close proximity to South relaxed comfort for tourists. Africa's Gauteng province, regarded as the economic hub of South Africa, as well as Nelspruit, Maputo and KwaZulu- Frost is responsible for putting together the draft product Natal north of Durban. Completing this picture is the development and marketing strategy for Swaziland, after country's unspoilt landscape and scenery. being engaged by the Commonwealth Secretariat. The aim of the strategy is to enhance the competitive position of However, Frost also highlighted some of the country's Swaziland's tourism offering, develop tourism product and weaknesses, which include poor signage, limited high-end experiences based on Swaziland's key attractions and accommodation entities and the lack of a fixed date for increase the number, length of stay and spread of tourism to cultural activities. Threats, on the other hand, included the Swaziland. It is also aimed at equipping STA and the Ministry trend of decreasing length of stay for overseas visitors to of Tourism & Environmental Affairs to strategically lobby for Southern Africa as well as global and regional competition, the funds required to execute the strategy and take tourism to amongst others. the desired level. Opportunities include the increase in the length of stay To ensure a comprehensive strategy, Frost said he had to take among overseas FIT travellers through focused and targeted an approach that is data-driven, market-led and practical. sales effort, greater collaboration between the Swazi public "Swaziland's culture offers safety, and its friendly people and private sectors and between private sector tourism always result in a feeling of relaxed comfort which puts the businesses, enhanced events programme amongst a whole lot country at a competitive edge. Also, its geographical location, of others," said Frost. between the Kruger National Park, Mozambique and Kwa-
Increase in visitors during first half of 2013 The country recorded a slight increase in the number of visitors between January and July this year. Statistics from the Swaziland Tourism Authority (STA) and the Immigration Department place visitor arrivals at a 1.1 percent increase compared to the same period last year. In total, 726 232 tourists visited the Kingdom of Swaziland during this period, compared to 717 991 last year. European tourists continued to dominate visitor arrivals in the country, recording an increase of 21.8 percent from 35 145 last year to 42 819 this year. In July alone, European visitor arrivals increased by a whopping 43.8 percent. The Netherlands recorded the highest percentage growth of in-bound tourists to Swaziland, at 52.6 percent. A total of 2 030 visited Swaziland from the Netherlands this July compared to 933 in July last year while the United Kingdom had 1 534 visiting Swaziland compared to 1 332 during the same period. However, overall United Kingdom visitor numbers have declined in the seven-month period, from a 15.2 percent growth last year to a decline of 55 percent this year. Meanwhile, African visitors decreased slightly, by 0.2 percent, compared to a similar period last year. Between January and July 2013, a total of 658 968 tourists visited Swaziland compared to 660 065 last year. However, even though in-bound tourist from South Africa also decreased, our neighbours still constituted the leading tourist numbers coming to Swaziland at 490 308. On a more positive note though, visitor arrivals from the Middle East increased by 23.4 percent, while those from Asia and Australia increased by 8.9 percent. North and South America, on the other hand, had 2.8 percent more visitors coming to Swaziland between January and July. On the other hand, Swazis visiting other countries increased by 9 percent, from 800 544 last year to 872 700 this year. Swaziland Tourism Authority (STA) Marketing Manager Bongani Dlamini has said as an organisation, they are happy with the growth in numbers. "Any growth in the number of arrivals into the kingdom, regardless of its percentile extent, is always welcome. It stands to reason that a country that attracts visitors ultimately benefits from bolstered foreign currency inflows among other trickle down effects. Most visitors, as historic and present records would indicate, do spend cash within the kingdom hence immensely aiding tourism's contribution towards the Gross Domestic Product," said Dlamini. The following table shows the statistics of inbound and outbound tourists who used the country's entry points in the month of July 2013. Border Post Inbound Outbound Airport 2 089 875 Bulembu 816 178 Gege 941 1 062 Lavumisa 21 848 1 1 263 Lomahasha 3 695 3 345 Lundzi 199 329 Mahamba 9 182 13 278 Mananga 9 245 16 872 Matsamo 11 736 17 100 Mhlumeni 11 790 4 508 Ngwenya 33 493 51 797 Salitje 2 266 5 758 Sandlane 1 065 1 436 Sicunusa 4 091 7 701 5
Pelepele rocks Europe Pelepele Dance Troupe continues to lift the country s flag high during their ongoing three-month tour of Europe. The Swaziland Tourism Authority (STA) sponsored the group with branded traditional regalia and T-shirts. Group leader Larry Mhlanga sent us the following pictures: 6
Mpumalanga media tours SD 7 Agroup of journalists from the Mpumalanga Province were in the country recently to tour its facilities, courtesy of the Swaziland Tourism Authority (STA). The seven-member crew represents four different media houses: MpowerFM, Mpumalanga News, Radio Laeveld and Lowveld Media. They arrived on Wednesday. On Thursday, they spent their day in the Hhohho region, doing a Tree Top Canopy Tour at 8th Wonder of the World nominee Malolotja Nature Reserve and strolling through Phophonyane Falls (another nominee) and visiting Maguga Dam. On Thursday, they visited the National Museum, Sobhuza II Memorial Park, Mlilwane Nature Reserve and Mantenga Cultural Village, where they were served traditional meals. Other places they were expected to visit are Swazi Candles, Mkhaya Nature Reserve, and do white water rafting at Usuthu River as well as tour the Summerfield Botanical Gardens before returning to Mpumalanga on Sunday. tour exhilarating. "The canopy tour was brilliant, in terms of the experience and the history. The tour guide told us that it was initially aimed at attracting tourists during the 2010 World Cup (held in South Africa). It was really lovely," Adams said. Adams also found the traditional dances displayed by the Mantenga Cultural group exciting. "We don't do a lot of that in South Africa. It was really an eyeopening experience, particularly the history behind how the SiSwati people lived and used to live," she said. In terms of the country's landscape, Adams said it was not really different from that of Mpumalanga as they were both mountainous."of course, that is expected as we are neighbours. The other common thing we share with Swaziland is that we have a lot of Swati speaking people in Mpumalanga," she said. Meanwhile, media tours are one way in which STA promotes Amongst the crew is Lowveld Media News Editor Marius the country's tourism products to the world. In June this year, Bakkes, who said he was enjoying his stay in the country so the Authority hosted a crew from Morning Live and CNBC far. Portia Adams from MpowerFM, Mpumalanga's Africa and recently the owner and editor of SA Golf Trader commercial radio station, said she found the Malolotja canopy Magazine, Louis Naude and Neville Bellairs.
Journalist demands Swazi traditional tours I would l i k e t o spend the n i g h t inside a k r a a l, spend time with Swazi women and help them cook their meals and I want to see what the men get up to. These were the words of Ansie Boks, a journalist from Radio Laeveld in Mpumalanga. Boks said she was crazy about traditional music and culture and contemplates promoting what she termed 'Swazi traditional tours' for tourists coming into the country. These tours, she said, would make it possible for tourists to spend a day or two inside a traditional Swazi village and experience a true taste of Swazi culture. "We can experience a lot of stuff when visiting a country, such as game drives, but we probably have gapme reserves where we come from but this is something different that people would love to experience. I, for one, would like to dance barefoot on the ground and experience how it feels and I want to be there when the cows are inside the kraal," she said. Boks said even though she had visited Swaziland in the past, she has never had the privilege of experiencing the Swazi way of life. I've always wanted to do this," she said, adding that the Mantenga Cultural Village experience was the highlight of her tour of Swaziland. She also admitted her fear of heights, saying she could not do the Malolotja Canopy Tour. Radio Laeveld is an Afrikaans community radio station based in Nelspruit while MPowerFM is the only commercial radio station broadcasting exclusively to the people of the Mpumalanga Province of South Africa 8 Meanwhile, Lowveld Media are the publishers, printers and distributors of several publications, amongst them Mpumalanga News, Laevelder (Lowvelder), Mpumalanga Mirror, Hazyview Herald, Nelspruit Post, Steelburger Lydenburg News and Barbeton Times, amongst others.
World Tourism Day 2013 promoting water preservation through tourism World Tourism Day takes place throughout the world on September 27 and this year's theme is 'Tourism and Water: Protecting our Common Future The kingdom of Swaziland will join the rest of the world in commemorating this important event in the global tourism calendar. According to the United Nations, World Tourism Day 2013 w i l l u n d e r l i n e t o u r i s m s r e s p o n s i b i l i t y a n d n e e d e d commitment to preserving the world s vital water resources. This year's World Tourism Day theme focuses on tourism's significant role and contribution to worldwide water conservation efforts. The theme is in line with the UN General Assembly's declaration of 2013 as the United Nations International Year of Water Cooperation, providing the opportunity to further highlight the shared responsibility of the tourism sector to the wider sustainability objectives. As a trillion dollar economic sector, tourism is a powerful force capable of tackling this challenge by offering effective solutions geared towards a more sustainable water future. With over one billion people traveling internationally each year, tourism can also be an important vehicle of raising awareness and changing behaviours. UNWTO Secretary-General Taleb Rifai in his official WTD 2013 message said that "As one of the largest economic sectors in the world, it is the responsibility of the tourism sector to take a leadership role and ensure companies and destinations invest in adequate water management throughout the value chain. He said if managed sustainably, tourism can bring benefits to the national and local communities and support water preservation," said he urged "all those involved in the tourism sector to join our global World Tourism Day campaign and continue to devise innovate solutions to ensuring sustainable access to water resources worldwide. World Tourism Day will be a unique opportunity to examine the challenges facing water management in tourism and the measures being undertaken by the sector to protect and promote water resources while creating benefits for local populations a r o u n d w a t e r t o u r i s m destinations. Sourced from the UNWTO website 9
Swaziland International Trade Fair 2013...Exciting line-up for Swaziland International Trade Fair 2013 Awide array of international and local musicians will this September converge at the Mavuso Trade and Exhibition Centre for the annual Swaziland International Trade Fair (SITF). The SITF, which began August 30 and ends September 9, 2013, will feature a number of South African musicians whose genres range from Gospel to Jazz, House and Hip- Hop, amongst others. Kicking off the line-up of performances on Sunday September 1 will be award-winning Gospel musicians Pastor Benjamin Dube, and the internationally-acclaimed Soweto Gospel Group (both from South Africa) during the first Gospel Sunday Festival beginning at 9am. The two Gospel giants will be joined by our own Gospel stars; Thabile Myeni, Crown Gospel Music Awards 2012 Best Newcomer Pastor Bakhe, Zodwa Samboko, Wisdom, Wandile, LaNdlela and Sunshine M. Admission is E70. On Monday September 2, there will be a family fun day where children will enjoy a number of outdoor games. There will also be a dance competition and motor show for dance and extreme sports fanatics. Performing during the event will be Black Cats as well as hip-hop sensation Ayanda 'Kena' Tsela. Completing the day's activities will be South African SAMAaward winning musician Professor of 'Ama-fingerprints' fame. Admission is E30. This will be followed by an all-night gig on Independence Day, September 6, where Swaziland will meet South Africa in a thrilling night show. The entertainment platter features the likes of DJs MBO, Kent, Lolo, Crooks, Sakhile, Stitch and Master P. Joining them will be local band TLP, local R&B crooner Tiyas, South Africa's Uhuru, T-Factor, Siyinqaba and Psycholution. A fashion show will also take place alongside the gig at an overall admission fee of E60. Saturday September 7 will be a jazz show and will feature SAMA Award winner Zonke of 'Feelings' fame playing alongside countrymen Spanela, Toti, Qibho Intalektual, Bholoja, Nomzamo and Masikane at E80. The grand finale will be on Sunday September 8 with the last installment of the Gospel Sunday which will exclusively feature Swazi artists. Gospel music fans will pay E80 at the door. However, seasonal tickets will be sold at E300 a head. 10
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