BY SIFISO NHLABATSI
MBABANE – The Royal Swazi Spa’s light will soon be reignited, Public Service Pensions Fund (PSPF) Chief Executive Officer Masotja Vilakati has announced.
Vilakati made the announcement on Thursday during the Tourism Nkwe Conference held at the Hilton Garden Inn in Mbabane, where he reflected on the history and significance of the iconic hospitality establishment.
However, he did not disclose the official date when the Royal Swazi Spa would reopen.
The reopening is expected to be undertaken through a partnership between PSPF and Tibiyo TakaNgwane, paving the way for the revival of the landmark that has been part of Eswatini’s tourism industry for decades.
Vilakati described the Royal Swazi as more than a hotel, saying its history was closely intertwined with that of the country’s tourism and hospitality sector.
He said when the Royal Swazi first opened its doors in 1965, it did not simply open as a resort but it opened as a statement.
He said the establishment became particularly significant because it welcomed people at a time when the region was divided by discriminatory policies.
“In an era where the region around us was divided by the harshest of policies, the Royal Swazi stood open to all. It was a rare and shining exception,” Vilakati said.
He said the establishment subsequently became a symbol of Eswatini’s hospitality, attracting royalty, dignitaries and international visitors.
The resort also gained prominence through its golf course and sporting events, while its name became associated with international sports and entertainment.
“For half a century, if you wanted to know where Eswatini was, you followed the light of the Royal Swazi,” Vilakati said.
He acknowledged that the years following its heyday had not been easy, with the once-busy establishment eventually falling silent.
Vilakati said its revival would therefore have significance beyond reopening the hotel, as the establishment was linked to a wider network of businesses and workers in the tourism sector.
The PSPF CEO said the reopening should not merely seek to recreate the Royal Swazi of the past but should build a new future from its legacy.
“This renewal is a chance to take everything the Royal Swazi once was and build on it with everything we have learned since,” he said.
Vilakati thanked Tibiyo TakaNgwane for enabling the partnership with PSPF, saying the collaboration would help relight what he described as a beacon of the country’s tourism industry.
He said the establishment could once again serve as a gateway through which international visitors experience Eswatini.
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