International visitor arrivals to the Kingdom of Eswatini surged by 16.3% in February 2026, reaching a total of 84,744 visitors. This follows a strong start to the year, with a total of 177,182 arrivals recorded in the first two months of 2026—an 11.8% increase compared to the same period in 2025.
According to Times of Eswatini, Africa remained the dominant source market, contributing about 90.5 per cent of total arrivals. Within this, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) accounted for 88.6 per cent of African arrivals, underlining the region’s continued importance to Eswatini’s tourism sector.
A report by the Ministry of Tourism and Environmental Affairs says that the region registered an overall growth of 18.8 per cent, with neighbouring countries leading the surge. Mozambique recorded a 27.7 per cent increase in arrivals, while South Africa posted a 9.9 per cent rise. It further states that Malawi emerged as the fastest-growing market, with arrivals increasing by 210.3 per cent. Other notable gains were recorded from Tanzania (39.7 per cent), Zimbabwe (36.7 per cent), Lesotho (28.8 per cent), Botswana (15.6 per cent), Zambia (12.8 per cent) and Kenya (10.2 per cent).
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The report highlights strengthening intra-African travel demand and growing regional cooperation as key drivers of the sector’s performance. Beyond Africa, results were mixed. The Asia-Pacific region recorded a 9.9 per cent increase, supported by strong growth from countries such as the Philippines, Taiwan and China. The Middle East registered a 46.5 per cent surge, although this was tempered by geopolitical tensions and travel disruptions. In contrast, arrivals from Europe declined by 7.9 per cent, with major markets such as Germany, France and the United Kingdom showing reduced travel demand. The Americas also recorded an overall decline of 8.4 per cent, largely due to a drop in visitors from the United States.
The report attributes these declines to rising travel costs, flight disruptions and shifting global travel preferences, with many tourists opting for shorter and more affordable destinations. Despite these challenges, Eswatini maintained positive growth in the first two months of 2026, recording 177 182 international arrivals, an 11.8 per cent increase compared to the same period last year. The average length of stay also improved slightly to 2.6 nights, indicating growing potential for increased visitor spending. The findings suggest that while global uncertainties persist, Eswatini’s tourism sector remains resilient, with regional markets continuing to anchor growth.
