THE Eswatini Tourism Authority (ETA) has advised the nation, including tourists to be aware of scammers who might want to sell them fake packages this festive season.
ETA Head of Marketing and Communications Chunky Mdluli-Dlamini said this at the Ghost Mountain Inn in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) after a team from Eswatini arrived in South Africa yesterday. She said they saw on social media that there were many people marketing tourist attractions as well as holidays and also offering packages.
Mdluli-Dlamini said people were selling tourist destination packages, urging locals to take note of who they were buying the packages from and the costs. She said those selling the packages should also confirm if the places were real so that buyers get the full experience.
“We are now close to the Christmas holidays and we urge our operators, guides and agents to keep safe as many things are happening. We urge agents to choose the right transport and right places for packages,” she said.
Mdluli-Dlamini added that if members of the public suspect that someone was selling bogus or sinister packages, they should report them to the ETA so that they could be investigated.
She said they can be contacted on 7808 9000 or via email at communications@tourismauthority.org.sz.
Mdluli-Dlamini during the game drive yesterday
Tour operators, guides and agents from the country are currently in KwaZulu-Natal for a five-day tourism experience.
The tour is hosted by the KwaZulu-Natal Tourism and Film Authority in collaboration with the ETA and it aims to position KZN as a premier tourism destination through enhanced product knowledge, itinerary draft validation, relationship building and increased sales conversion.
Mdluli-Dlamini said they were with tour operators, travel agents and tour guides in KZN to learn about KZN tourism and film and how they can work together in the tourism sector.
The team was accommodated at the Ghost Mountain upon their arrival.
She said the educational tour was aimed at teaching the tour operators, agents and guides on how to package destinations.
She said the operators would be taught how to package, host and market the tourism industry well in their social media pages.
“The site visits will also help them identify tourist attraction places that many people visit in KwaZulu-Natal. We have a Memorandum of Understanding with the KZN province that was signed two years ago that allows us to share ideas,” she said.
She added that Eswatini was also going to host tour operators, guides and agents from KZN. She said they were still going to visit the Jozini Tiger Lodge and then continue to other places as part of their tours.
Mdluli-Dlamini said they had engaged operators doing outbound tour packaging so that they can know the destinations and not just package destinations for tourists.
KwaZulu Natal Tourism and Film Authority.
10-member team visits KZN
AT LEAST 10 outbound tour packaging operators, guides, agents and officials from the Eswatini Tourism Authority (ETA) are visiting KwaZulu-Natal province to learn about its tourism industry.
The group left the country on Sunday through the Lavumisa Border Post. They are expected to be back in the country on Thursday.
Upon their arrival in South Africa (KZN), the team experienced the lavish Ghost Mountain Inn and explored the scenic beauty of the Jozini Dam, which also falls within Eswatini. This is the same dam that was explored by His Majesty King Mswati III.
The tour operators and guides were taken for a boat cruise experience at Jozini Dam.
The agents experienced the tranquillity and natural beauty of Lake Jozini from the water, cruising across the expansive lake while taking in spectacular views of the surrounding mountains, wildlife and birdlife.
They also experienced wildlife viewing and a relaxing sundowner cruise, offering visitors an opportunity to connect with the natural beauty of northern KwaZulu-Natal in a memorable and immersive way. The team then had a boma dinner experience at the Ghost Mountain Inn.
| Area / Dimension | Key Details & Directives |
|---|---|
| Consumer Scam Advisory | Holidaymakers urged to verify operator credentials, authenticate destination properties, and vet transport arrangements before booking festive deals. |
| Reporting Suspicious Packages | ETA Hotline: 7808 9000 | Email: communications@tourismauthority.org.sz |
| Delegation & Itinerary | 10 outbound tour operators, guides, and ETA officials on a 5-day tour (Sunday to Thursday) via Lavumisa Border Post. |
| Visited Attractions | Ghost Mountain Inn (Mkuze), Lake Jozini boat cruise & wildlife viewing; Jozini Tiger Lodge scheduled next. |
| Strategic Partnership Framework | Joint initiative under the 2-year-old ETA and KwaZulu-Natal Tourism & Film Authority MoU; reciprocal KZN trade visit to Eswatini planned. |
Key elements of the Eswatini Tourism Authority consumer advisory and KZN educational tour.
