Big boost for handicraft industry
The Swazi Observer, Swaziland
THE handicraft business is to be boosted by an initiative embarked by Minister of Tourism and Communications Thandi Shongwe.
The minister will be putting up speed points, assisted by the Banks and SPTC at the handicraft stalls which could see speedy exchange of Euros, Dollars and Pounds on the spot.
This could see an end to the present reliance on Rands and Emalangeni currency which the minister criticised in his speech.
Addressing members of the Hotel and Tourism Association (HOTAS) at a breakfast meeting at Gigi’s Restaurant at Ezulwini, the minister noted that time to embrace ICT was nigh for the industry.
She said without ICT, the hotel and tourism industry would fail dismally especially in serving tourists from greater Europe who formed the majority of Swaziland’s visitors.
“Our standards should improve as an industry to be able to meet our clientele and with this I mean our services being accessible to our guests; including on-line booking and payment. Not being on-line is destroying the industry.”
The minister also noted that communication was another area that needed to be tackled too since most establishments were using only the English language as a mode of communication and not other international languages such as French and Portuguese.
She said government would be moving in to regulate the industry (of tourism) to protect Swaziland’s image since there had to be minimum standards in place.
“We also need to offer a package for our tourists, for instance charging them say E100 for two-hour citizenship an adventure most could most likely take up. We are denying our tourists the variety they would love to be exposed to.
“Also do get in touch with the Youth Council and have young men as tour guides and the funds received in the adventures could then be distributed within the communities. We must share the resources, so that the youth also benefit from tourism or otherwise tourists could be mugged and stoned by these people (youth),†the minister said.
She hailed the close collaboration between the HOTAS and Bread & Breakfast places noting this was good for tourism since it meant they were partnering in the trade and not competing.
Also present were ministers; S’gayoyo Magongo (Public Service) and Elijah Shongwe (Public Works) as well as Principal Secretaries; Cyril Kunene (Public Service) and Mduduzi Magongo (Tourism and Communications), SIPA General Manager Phiwa Ginindza, Swaziland Tourism Association (STA) CEO Eric Maseko, FESBC President Henry ‘Tum’ du Pont amongst others.