Durban – Eswatini made a strong showing at Africa’s Travel Indaba 2026 in Durban this week, with Tourism Minister Jane Mkhonta-Simelane and Eswatini Tourism Authority CEO Vusie Dlamini leading the Kingdom’s delegation at one of the continent’s biggest travel and tourism trade shows, held from 11 to 14 May 2026 at the Durban International Convention Centre.
The official opening ceremony on Tuesday 12 May was attended by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, South Africa’s Minister of Tourism Patricia De Lille, KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thami Ntuli and South African Tourism CEO Dr Shamilla Chettiar, among other senior tourism officials. The ceremony featured musical and traditional dance performances, including the Durban Choir and the Drakensberg Boys Choir. President Ramaphosa and Minister De Lille jointly rang the bell to symbolise the opening of the trade floor.
On the sidelines of the event, Minister Mkhonta-Simelane and ETA CEO Dlamini met and greeted Eswatini tourism industry members present at the Indaba. The Kingdom’s contingent at the show was one of the largest, drawing together a wide cross-section of the local tourism sector including Big Game Parks, Happy Valley Hotel, The Royal Villas Eswatini, Foresters Arms Hotel, SibaneSami Hotel, Sibebe Resort, Hilton Garden Inn Mbabane, MTN Bushfire, Malandela’s Lifestyle, Mountain View International Hotel, Mantenga Lodge and Restaurant, Piggs Peak Hotel, The George Hotel Manzini, Nkonyeni Lodge and Golf Estate, All Out Africa, Eswatini Air, Eswatini Travel News, the Eswatini National Tour Operators and Tour Guides Association, the Eswatini National Trust Commission, Wide Horizons Mountain Retreat, Global Village Guest House Manzini and Lidwala Lodge. 
The Eswatini stand drew considerable attention throughout the event, with the team engaging global tour operators and trade partners to showcase the Kingdom under the theme “Unlimited Africa.”
MTN Bushfire was one of the star attractions at the Eswatini stand, with the festival’s 19th edition being promoted as a unique, multigenerational and inclusive experience featuring local acts from Eswatini, Africa and around the world. The festival runs from 29 to 31 May 2026. Lucky winners walked away with prizes handed out personally by Minister Mkhonta-Simelane, while attendees were treated to a taste of Sibebe Premium Lager and Spotted Horse Eswatini.
Minister Mkhonta-Simelane also took part in the African Ministers’ Roundtable, a key feature of the Indaba hosted by South Africa’s Minister De Lille. The panel brought together Angola’s Minister of Tourism Márcio de Jesus, Zimbabwe’s Tourism Minister Tongai Mafidhi Mnangagwa and Lesotho’s Tourism Minister Motlatsi Maqelebo, with discussions focused on unlocking Africa’s tourism potential and strengthening regional collaboration for inclusive growth.
