MALKERNS: Philani Shlongonyane, an artisan based in Malkerns(Manzini region)says their businesses have suffered a great deal since the beginning of the political unrest.
Speaking to this Swaziland News on Thursday, the young businessman said tourists were no longer flocking into the country and their businesses were suffering as a result.
“Our primary market is foreign tourists, and they used to arrive at Swazi Candles in various buses, which helped to increase business. However, large numbers of tourists are uncommon today,”he said.
But Moses Vilakati,the Minister of Tourism and Environmental Affairs when qouted by the State owned Eswatini Observer during the ongoing Incwala Ceremony claimed the country's tourism industry was expanding rapidly.
"After realizing the potential of the country's tourism industry, people took advantage of its rapid growth and built small hotels.The newly constructed hotels will be opened by the Ministry of Tourism from February onwards,”said the Minister as quoted by the Eswatini Observer.
Tourism entrepreneur Philani Sihlongonyane.