Mbabane – The recent opened Ezulwini Palazzo International Convention Centre (ICC) and the expected reopening of the Royal Swazi are expected to contribute to a five to 10 per cent increase in hotel occupancy across Eswatini.
According to the Hospitality and Tourism Association of Eswatini (HOTAES) Chairperson Marc Ward said the two developments could strengthen conference, business and leisure tourism, creating increased activity for hotels and other businesses within the hospitality sector.
Ward said this on September 17, 2026, during Tourism Nkwe 2026, where HOTAES presented its annual report and outlined developments in the tourism and hospitality industry.
“With the Royal Swazi reopening in the new year, we trust that its standing as one of the great brands of Eswatini tourism will help drive an increase of somewhere between 5% and 10% in occupancy across the sector,” Ward said.
The expected reopening of the Royal Swazi was also highlighted by Public Service Pensions Fund (PSPF) Chief Executive Officer Masotja B. Vilakati, who described the hotel as a long-standing symbol of Eswatini’s hospitality and tourism industry.
Vilakati said the Royal Swazi had historically welcomed visitors from across the world at a time when the region was divided by restrictive policies.
“In an era where the region around us was divided by the harshest of policies, the Royal Swazi stood open to all,” Vilakati said.
He said the hotel had hosted royalty, dignitaries and international sporting personalities, including golfing legends, while its golf course and facilities had contributed to Eswatini’s international profile.
“It became a byword for elegance in Southern Africa,” Vilakati said.
He said the hotel had subsequently experienced difficult years, with the decline in activity being felt across the hospitality industry.
“Doors that once opened wide were then closed. Grounds that once welcomed thousands of guests, those fell quiet,” he said.
Vilakati said the reopening should be viewed as an opportunity to build on the Royal Swazi’s legacy while creating a new chapter for the tourism industry.
“I stand before you today, Minister, to say that this light is being lit,” he said.
He said the renewed facility should reflect an Eswatini that was proud of its culture and identity and ready to welcome visitors.
Vilakati further said the benefits of the Royal Swazi should extend beyond the hotel to other players in the tourism value chain.
“Make no mistake, when that facility is opened, it belongs to all the hoteliers and the tour operators, the craftsmen and women, the guides, the drivers, the chefs, the small businesses that live and breathe alongside every visitor who comes here,” he said.
He said the Royal Swazi should contribute to activity throughout the hospitality industry and the Ezulwini Valley.
“It should light up the entire industry and the entire valley,” Vilakati said.
Meanwhile, Ward said the past year had been a period of steady rebuilding and renewed momentum for the industry.
He said HOTAES had focused on strengthening the regulatory environment in which tourism businesses operate and repositioning Eswatini as a competitive destination in the region.
“Our focus this last year has been on strengthening the regulatory environment we operate in, and repositioning Eswatini as a genuinely competitive destination in the region,” Ward said.
He said HOTAES had strengthened relationships with key stakeholders through Memoranda of Understanding with Mbabane City Municipality, the Eswatini Civil Aviation Authority and the Southern Africa Tourism Services Association (SATSA).
Ward said the SATSA relationship would provide a stronger channel between HOTAES members and the wider regional tourism trade.
The Eswatini Tour Guide Course was also highlighted, with about 1 500 guides trained since its inception in 1995.
Ward said preparations were under way for the 2027 edition of the course, which would partner with South African tour guide associations.
HOTAES was also represented at the launch of the Swazi Rally, reinforcing its involvement in the country’s events and motorsport tourism calendar.
Vice-Chairperson Karol said major events continued to contribute to the economy, citing the Bushfire Festival’s estimated E121 million contribution and the Swazi Rally’s estimated E50 million contribution.
“Bushfire alone contributed an estimated E121 million, and Swazi Rally around E50 million,” Karol said.
Ward said HOTAES’ road shows had also been a major highlight, with members taken to Cape Town, Johannesburg and Pretoria during 2026.
He said the road shows resulted in meetings with around 180 buyers across the three cities, connecting HOTAES members with tourism trade buyers.
Karol said HOTAES currently had 84 members and continued working closely with the Eswatini Tourism Authority and the Ministry of Tourism.
The association was also developing its website and social media platforms as key communication channels for members and the wider public.
Ward said HOTAES had refreshed its governance processes and continued taking the association’s work closer to establishments around the country.
“All of this means HOTAES is on a more solid footing today than it was a year ago,” he said.
The association also reflected on last year’s Tourism Nkwe, which it described as the industry’s national tourism summit.
Ward said the summit had helped strengthen relationships with stakeholders and broaden understanding of how tourism intersects with different industries and ministries.
“That summit gave us real momentum, and it’s exactly why we’re here today – to build directly on what was started last year,” he said.
The association also introduced its new Executive Committee, with Ward serving as Chairperson and Karol as Vice-Chairperson.
The committee includes Christine Ndlovu for Governance, Vasani Matsebula for Marketing and PR, Melusi “Zox” Dlamini for Product Development, Lebo Kunene representing Tourism Transport Operators, Phumie Mamba representing Tour Guides, Ged representing Airlines, and Dumsani Dlamini as advisers.
HOTAES also welcomed six new members: Livivane Guesthouse, Wanakah Estate Guesthouse, Vista Royal Luxury Villas, Afritrade Services, Phaselijie Rock Resort and Teklos Lodge.
Ward said the association still had work to do as the tourism sector continued to change.
“There is still much to be done, and the pace of change in this sector means our priorities will keep shifting,” he said.
“But the direction of travel over the last year has been a positive one, and we’re looking forward to what Tourism Nkwe 2026 and the year ahead will bring.”
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