National Tourism Policy of the Kingdom of Swaziland.

The Swaziland National Tourism Policy provides a comprehensive framework—updating the 2000 Tourism Policy—that sets out the Vision, goals, and objectives of the tourism sector for the period 2010–2015, while also outlining a clear path for implementation. It defines the roles and responsibilities of key stakeholders, including central government, lead state agencies such as the Swaziland Tourism Authority (STA), the private sector, business associations, and non-governmental organizations, among others. The general goal of the Policy is to develop the tourism sector as a national priority in a sustainable and acceptable manner, taking full advantage of regional and international trends and developments so that it can significantly contribute to the continued improvement of quality of life in the Kingdom of Swaziland, while promoting the country’s cultural and natural heritage. The Policy sets out specific sectoral objectives aligned with this overall goal, focusing on the following key policy areas: product development and market research; marketing; infrastructure development; community-based tourism; environmental protection and eco-tourism; domestic tourism; tourism and culture; international and regional cooperation; employment creation and human resource development; and tourism investment and foreign direct investment. It further outlines targeted strategies for each of these policy areas.
The specific sectoral objectives are as follows (i) economic objectives, which aim to position tourism as a key driver of economic growth and employment by promoting the country as a competitive destination; increasing revenue generation and foreign exchange earnings; encouraging private sector investment and public-private partnerships; expanding tourism infrastructure and facilities; and strengthening the contribution of tourism to trade in services; (ii) social objectives, which focus on enhancing the quality and inclusiveness of tourism by improving health, safety, cleanliness, information services, and the overall attractiveness of the destination; promoting awareness of the importance of tourism; ensuring the safety and security of visitors; fostering gender equality; and creating opportunities for disadvantaged groups; (iii) environmental objectives, which seek to ensure that tourism development is environmentally responsible by promoting compliance with environmental legislation; encouraging the conservation and sustainable use of natural resources; developing eco-friendly tourism products; maintaining development within environmental carrying capacity; applying environmental impact assessments with appropriate mitigation measures; and preserving the country’s scenic beauty; (iv) cultural objectives, which aim to preserve and promote swazi culture as a core element of the tourism experience by strengthening cultural tourism products; encouraging community participation and community-based tourism; supporting local traditions, festivals, and cultural events; fostering national pride in cultural heritage; and promoting the production of authentic handicrafts and cultural goods while minimizing negative impacts on culture and the environment; (v) health objectives, which aim to protect both tourists and the local population by addressing health risks across the tourism system, including the provision of mobile clinics at ports of entry to help prevent the spread of communicable diseases; ensuring safe and hygienic environments; and implementing regular inspection and certification of food and beverages in tourism establishments.
The key implementing agencies include the Central Government, the Inter-Ministerial Committee, the Ministry responsible for Tourism, the Swaziland Tourism Authority, the Swaziland National Trust Commission (SNTC), the Private Sector, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), and Sector Associations. Implementation will be subject to continuous monitoring, as well as periodic review and evaluation, led by the Ministry responsible for Tourism.