BY SIFISO NHLABATSI
MBABANE– Minister of Tourism and Environmental Affairs Jane Mkhonta-Simelane has welcomed Hilton Vice President of Operations for Sub-Saharan Africa and the Indian Ocean Victor Chalfoun to Eswatini, hailing the global hospitality group’s investment in the Kingdom and its contribution to the country’s tourism industry.
Chalfoun, who oversees Hilton’s operations across Sub-Saharan Africa and the Indian Ocean, is on a visit to the Hilton Garden Inn Mbabane, with Mkhonta-Simelane expressing gratitude for the group’s investment while encouraging further growth in the country’s tourism accommodation and hospitality sector.
“We take this opportunity to express our gratitude to the support that we have received from the Hilton Garden Group, especially for coming up with this facility in the kingdom,” she said.
The Minister said the hotel had taken on an important role in supporting tourism by providing accommodation for visitors to the country.
“Since we are the Ministry of Tourism and Environmental Affairs, this facility has undertaken a good task, especially for the tourism sector, housing our tourists in the country,” Mkhonta-Simelane said.
She further revealed that the facility was already experiencing growing demand, saying: “This facility, it has become too small for our client.”
According to the Minister, Chalfoun’s visit presented an opportunity to further strengthen the hospitality industry and explore ways of enhancing tourism accommodation in the country.
“We are happy that you are in the country to do more work in favour of or to enhance the tourism accommodation or tourism hospitality industry,” she said.
Mkhonta-Simelane also used the occasion to showcase Eswatini’s cultural identity, telling Chalfoun that the warm welcome he received reflected the character of the Kingdom and its people.
For his part, Chalfoun said he was delighted to be in Eswatini, praising the reception he had received during his visit.
“I am beyond delighted to be here, I must say. The crisp weather has been contrasted with your warm hospitality,” he said.
Chalfoun added that despite having been in the country for less than an hour, he already felt a strong connection with those he had met.
“Although it’s been less than an hour, I feel like I have known you for years,” he said, expressing his desire to spend more time in the country engaging with stakeholders and discussing opportunities ahead.
His visit to Eswatini comes as the country continues positioning tourism and hospitality as important contributors to economic growth, with the Hilton Garden Inn Mbabane forming part of the Kingdom’s international hospitality offering.
#Hilton #VictorChalfoun #Eswatini #Tourism #Hospitality #HiltonGardenInn #Mbabane #EswatiniPositiveNews
