Eswatini welcomed 868,352 international visitors during the first nine months of 2026, representing a 9.7 per cent increase compared with the same period last year, as growing demand from neighbouring African countries strengthened the southern African kingdom’s tourism sector.
According to figures released by the Eswatini Tourism Authority on October 15th, the country recorded 96,720 international visitor arrivals in September 2026, up 6.6 per cent from 90,772 during the corresponding month in 2025. The increase marked the ninth consecutive month of year-on-year growth in visitor arrivals.
According to thekingdomofeswatini.com, the growth was uneven across key source markets, with arrivals from South Africa, Eswatini’s largest source market, declining by 3.9%. This contraction was offset by strong growth from other regional markets, particularly Mozambique (+26.9%) and Botswana(+71.1%), highlighting the latter markets increasing contribution to overall arrivals growth.
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A broader regional analysis shows that Africa, the Americas, Europe and the Middle East all recorded year-on-year growth in September 2026, while Asia and the Pacific was the only region to contract. Within individual markets, arrivals declined from the United States, Sweden, Norway and Italy, while Canada, Germany and Belgium recorded growth. These mixed results point to an uneven recovery across source markets, amid continued pressure on international travel budgets. Rising transport and accommodation costs, coupled with broader economic uncertainty, are influencing destination choices and travel spending, with some travellers favouring closer or more affordable destinations. For Eswatini, this reinforces the importance of monitoring market-level performance and strengthening the value proposition in both established and emerging source markets.
During the period under review, Eswatini’s tourism calendar was bolstered by several regional and international events. The Eswatini International Trade Fair, the country’s largest annual business exhibition, drew exhibitors and visitors from across the region. Eswatini also hosted the Southern Africa Inter-Municipal Sports Association (SAIMSA) Games, bringing municipal delegations from neighbouring countries together for a week of sporting and cultural exchange. In addition, Eswatini actively participated in World Tourism Month celebrations, further promoting the destination and enhancing its visibility on the global tourism stage.
