Eswatini, also known by its former official names Swaziland and the Kingdom of Swaziland, a landlocked country in Southern Africa bordered by South Africa on all sides except the northeast, where it shares a border with Mozambique, experienced a 16.3% rise in international visitor arrivals in February 2026, totalling 84.744 international visitors, driven by a strong regional tourism performance, particularly from SADC countries, and continuing a positive momentum this year.
For the first two months of 2026, the country recorded a cumulative 177.182 international arrivals, an 11.8% increase on the same period period in 2025.
Africa remained the dominant source market at 90.5% of total arrivals, with SADC countries accounting for 88.6% of that figure. Regional growth reached 18.8%, led by strong performances from Malawi (+210.3%), Tanzania (+39.7%), Zimbabwe (+36.7%), Mozambique (+27.7%), and Lesotho (+28.8%).
The Middle East also recorded a notable 46.5% surge, Asia - Pacific grew by 9.9%. while Europe and the Americas recorded declines of 7.9% and 8.4% respectively, attributed to rising travel costs, flight disruptions, and shifting consumer preferences.
The figures built on a landmark 2025, in which the African country surpassed one million international arrivals for the year, a 7.5% year 0 on 0 year increase that Minister for Tourism and Environmental Affairs Jane Simelane described. affirming renewed confidence in Eswatini as a competitive tourism destination.
Speaking at an industry workshop in Mbabane, one of the two capitals of the country, the Minister acknowledged that key metrics including average length of stay, currently mark 2.6 nights, and visitor spending remain below optimal levels, calling for targeted policy interventions.
The Minister for Tourism and Environmental Affairs highlighted domestic and diaspora tourism as a resilient growth segment and outlined strategic priorities improved data system, community - based tourism, and stronger public - private sector collaboration, in line with national development agenda.
The surge in regional visitors is considered a testament to the resilience of Eswatini’s tourism sector, offsetting fluctuations in long - haul market.
The government is aiming to reach two million tourist arrivals annually by 2027, driven by eco - tourism and wildlife experiences, supported by areas like Hlane Royal National Park, Eswatini’s largest protected area, renowned for its unique wildlife and stunning landscapes.
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