BY PHUMZILE NDLOVU
MBABANE – Eswatini’s tourism sector is preparing for one of its major industry gatherings as His Excellency Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini has been confirmed as the keynote speaker for the second annual Tourism Nkwe, a high-level platform aimed at shaping the future of the country’s tourism industry.
The event, organised by the Hospitality and Tourism Association of Eswatini (HOTAES), will bring together government leaders, tourism operators and industry stakeholders at the Hilton Hotel on 17 September 2026, with the aim of strengthening collaboration and driving the next phase of growth for one of the country’s key economic sectors.
The Minister of Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Jane Mkhonta-Simelane, will be the guest speaker at the gathering.
The programme will be directed by Vusani Matsebula, a technology entrepreneur and tourism innovator who has transformed tourism and transportation in Eswatini and across Africa through technology, digital solutions and smart mobility.
PM’s participation follows his attendance at the inaugural Tourism Nkwe in 2025, signalling continued government support for efforts to position tourism as a driver of economic development, job creation and investment.
This year’s gathering will build on the Nkwe! Declaration, with discussions expected to focus on sustainable destination development, stronger cross-border partnerships and improving visitors’ experiences from arrival to departure.
HOTAES Chairman Marc Ward said Tourism Nkwe had become more than an industry conference, describing it as a platform for turning conversations into meaningful action.
“Tourism Nkwe is a gathering where the tourism industry can come together, speak with one voice, confront the issues that matter and, importantly, move from dialogue to action,” Ward said.
He said the association was particularly honoured to welcome Prime Minister back to deliver the closing address, adding that his participation reflected the strategic importance of tourism to Eswatini’s economic future.
Ward said unlocking the country’s tourism potential would require collaboration across the entire tourism value chain.
“Tourism is one of the sectors through which Eswatini can tell its story to the world while creating jobs, attracting investment, supporting communities and generating economic opportunity,” he said.
“Tourism Nkwe gives us an opportunity to ask not only where the industry is today, but where we want it to be tomorrow and what we must collectively do to get there.”
The gathering will also mark the official unveiling of HOTAES’ newly appointed executive, a move the association says will strengthen its leadership and its ability to represent the interests of the hospitality and tourism industry.
HOTAES has encouraged accommodation providers, tour guides, hospitality businesses and other tourism operators to participate actively in the discussions, saying the sector’s next chapter will depend on shared solutions and coordinated action.
Tourism Nkwe has emerged as an important platform for bringing together government and industry leaders to align priorities for a stronger, more competitive and future-focused tourism sector capable of making a greater contribution to Eswatini’s economy.
