Eswatini tourism rises as international arrivals jump 16% 

Eswatini recorded a 16.3% increase in international visitor arrivals in February 2026, highlighting a strong recovery in the tourism sector despite global travel pressures. A total of 84,744 visitors arrived during the month, driven largely by regional markets and select overseas destinations. 

Africa remained the dominant source of tourists, accounting for 90.5% of all arrivals. Within the continent, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) contributed 88.6% of African visitors, underscoring the region’s central role in Eswatini’s tourism. 

A Ministry of Tourism and Environmental Affairs report shows that regional arrivals grew 18.8%, with neighbouring countries leading the increase. Mozambique saw a 27.7% rise, while South Africa posted a 9.9% gain. 

Malawi emerged as the fastest-growing market, with arrivals jumping 210.3%, followed by Tanzania (39.7%), Zimbabwe (36.7%), Lesotho (28.8%), Botswana (15.6%), Zambia (12.8%) and Kenya (10.2%). 

Asia-Pacific visitors up 9.9%

Beyond Africa, results were mixed. The Asia-Pacific region rose 9.9%, led by visitors from the Philippines, Taiwan and China. The Middle East recorded a 46.5% increase, although geopolitical tensions and travel disruptions tempered the growth. 

European arrivals fell 7.9%, with Germany, France and the United Kingdom among the countries contributing to the decline. The Americas also dropped 8.4%, mainly due to fewer visitors from the United States. 

The report attributes these declines to higher travel costs, flight disruptions, and changing global travel habits, with many tourists choosing shorter or more affordable trips. 

Despite these headwinds, Eswatini maintained growth in the first two months of 2026, welcoming 177,182 visitors—an 11.8% rise from the same period last year. The average length of stay increased slightly to 2.6 nights, suggesting potential for higher visitor spending.

Minister highlights tourism growth milestone

Government officials reaffirmed tourism as a key driver of economic growth after Eswatini surpassed one million international arrivals in 2025.

Minister for Tourism and Environmental Affairs Jane Simelane highlighted the milestone while opening a sector performance workshop at Happy Valley Hotel. 

“This performance affirms renewed confidence in Eswatini as a competitive tourism destination,” Simelane said, noting a 7.5% year-on-year increase and continued recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. 

She cautioned, however, that global recovery remains uneven due to macroeconomic pressures, rising travel costs, and changing consumer behavior. The SADC region continues to supply the majority of visitors, contributing 88–92% of total arrivals, demonstrating the value of regional cooperation. 

Eswatini eyes longer tourist stays

Simelane called for targeted policy actions to increase average length of stay and visitor spending. She also highlighted domestic and diaspora tourism as resilient segments that provide stability during cultural and festive periods. 

The government’s strategic focus includes boosting competitiveness, improving data systems, promoting community-based tourism, and strengthening public-private collaboration.

These priorities align with the national development agenda and the vision of King Mswati III, who has identified tourism as vital for economic growth and job creation. 

The workshop brought together key industry players to review sector performance and chart a path for sustainable tourism development in Eswatini. “This engagement must result in actionable outcomes that will strengthen the tourism industry,” Simelane said.