BY PHESHEYA IAN KUNENE
MBABANE – The Eswatini Tourism Authority has been honored with the esteemed Most Responsible Stand Award at the World Travel Market (WTM) Africa 2025.
This prestigious accolade has cemented ETA’s dedication to sustainability in the tourism sector.
The award was presented at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, acknowledging the Authority’s proactive measures to minimize waste and incorporate eco-friendly practices in its exhibition. This prestigious accolade highlights Eswatini Tourism’s commitment to sustainable tourism and responsible event participation.
The Eswatini Tourism Authority’s stand received acclaim for its innovative design and use of sustainable materials. The Authority continued its tradition of utilizing materials from past exhibitions, including those from last year’s event.
These materials will be reused once again for the upcoming Africa Travel Indaba, which will take place in Durban from May 12 to 15, 2025.
Following the win, the Eswatini Positive News desk interviewed Eswatini Tourism Authority Head of Marketing and Communications, Chunky Mdluli-Dlamini, who elaborated on the award’s significance.
“We won the Most Responsible Stand Award because of the material used to build our stand. We used the same materials last year and again this year, and the same materials will be used for the Africa Travel Indaba next month in Durban, from May 12-15, 2025. We applied the responsible rules of reducing waste, reusing the same materials, and recycling them,” Mdluli-Dlamini explained.
When asked what this award meant for the Eswatini Tourism Authority, Mdluli-Dlamini expressed her pride: “It means a lot. We were competing against the giants in the tourism sector, and we are proud that we won this year and made the Kingdom proud. Indeed, dynamites come in small packages. We are small, petite yet unique.”
The WTM Africa Responsible Tourism Awards celebrate individuals and organizations that lead the way in responsible tourism. Eswatini’s stand stood out for its inventive use of natural and reusable materials, which effectively showcased the country’s cultural and ecological treasures. A key feature of the exhibit was a map of Africa made entirely from corks, symbolizing the unity and shared responsibility of preserving the continent’s heritage.
The Eswatini Tourism Authority’s commitment to sustainability is evident in its dedication to reusing and recycling materials. This approach embodies the core principles of sustainability: reducing waste, reusing resources, and recycling materials for an eco-conscious lifecycle. By prioritizing these strategies, the Authority has set a high standard for sustainability in the tourism industry.
Eswatini’s triumph at WTM Africa 2025 highlights the growing movement towards sustainable tourism, demonstrating how creativity and responsibility can go hand in hand. This recognition not only enhances Eswatini’s standing as a travel destination but also sets a powerful example for others in the industry.
With this achievement, the Eswatini Tourism Authority is not only raising awareness of the importance of sustainable tourism but also positioning the country as a leader in eco-tourism on the global stage.
