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Feasibility Study of Proposed Tourism Dev in Shewula, NE ...

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ESRA represented a short to medium term action program to complement the longer<br />

term strategic vision <strong>of</strong> Government, which is known as the National <strong>Dev</strong>elopment<br />

Strategy (NDS). At the core <strong>of</strong> the ESRA program are the overall objectives <strong>of</strong><br />

accelerat<strong>in</strong>g economic growth and improv<strong>in</strong>g social services <strong>in</strong> order to improve the<br />

standard <strong>of</strong> liv<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> the Swazi people, and achiev<strong>in</strong>g governance <strong>of</strong> a high quality,<br />

based on transparency, accountability, discipl<strong>in</strong>e and the rule <strong>of</strong> law.<br />

A tourism strategy is part <strong>of</strong> the ESRA, with a report on tourism development <strong>in</strong><br />

Swaziland be<strong>in</strong>g produced <strong>in</strong> October 1997. The report looked at the importance <strong>of</strong><br />

tourism to people, the economy, to the environment and to traditional values. An<br />

analysis <strong>of</strong> the current status <strong>of</strong> the Swaziland tourism <strong>in</strong>dustry was undertaken, and<br />

<strong>in</strong>cluded an analysis <strong>of</strong> serious constra<strong>in</strong>ts to the tourism <strong>in</strong>dustry. The <strong>in</strong>formation<br />

gathered enabled the Task Force 53 to draft a policy statement on tourism development<br />

for Swaziland, as well as develop<strong>in</strong>g a <strong>Tourism</strong> Action Plan.<br />

To date, few <strong>of</strong> the recommendations have been implemented.<br />

2.5. SOCIAL SITUATION IN SWAZILAND<br />

The population <strong>of</strong> Swaziland was approximately 900 000 <strong>in</strong> 1995, and has been<br />

projected to be approximately 1 160 000 by the year 2000. 54 However, a population<br />

policy is due to be put <strong>in</strong> place, which is aimed at reduc<strong>in</strong>g Swaziland's growth rate <strong>of</strong><br />

3.5% (one <strong>of</strong> the highest <strong>in</strong> the world). Swaziland's population is young with 60% <strong>of</strong><br />

the people aged below 21 years. The population distribution is divided <strong>in</strong>to 76% <strong>in</strong><br />

rural areas and 24% <strong>in</strong> urban areas. 55<br />

AIDS was first reported <strong>in</strong> Swaziland <strong>in</strong> 1987. S<strong>in</strong>ce then it has had an <strong>in</strong>creas<strong>in</strong>gly<br />

negative effect on the economy and social services, especially as it mostly affects the<br />

economically active people aged between 20 and 39 years. It is felt that the worst is<br />

yet to come <strong>in</strong> that AIDS affects more than 30% <strong>of</strong> the population <strong>of</strong> Swaziland. The<br />

true effects <strong>of</strong> this won't be known until the period 2005-2010. 56<br />

2.5.1. The socio-cultural context<br />

While many Swazi people have adopted western lifestyles and western-style bus<strong>in</strong>ess<br />

practices, particularly <strong>in</strong> bus<strong>in</strong>ess centres, their traditions are deeply rooted. These<br />

traditions are carefully guarded and upheld, and are manifested <strong>in</strong> the traditional<br />

ceremonies that take place to mark specific occasions.<br />

There are some visible signs <strong>of</strong> a complex and deep-seated social system <strong>in</strong> the<br />

people that one comes across on a daily basis. Some Swazis will be wear<strong>in</strong>g colourful<br />

dress, featur<strong>in</strong>g a toga-like garment - the mahiya.<br />

The two most important traditional ceremonies, <strong>in</strong> the eyes <strong>of</strong> Swazi's and foreigners<br />

alike, are the iNcwala <strong>in</strong> December and the Umhlanga <strong>in</strong> late August or early<br />

September.<br />

53 The Task Force members were drawn from a diversity <strong>of</strong> backgrounds (such as members <strong>of</strong> the private tourism<br />

and travel <strong>in</strong>dustry, University <strong>of</strong> Swaziland, and the M<strong>in</strong>istry <strong>of</strong> <strong>Tourism</strong>) to create a forum for the analysis <strong>of</strong> tourism<br />

trends and the formulation <strong>of</strong> tourism policies and action plans.<br />

54 This <strong>in</strong>crease <strong>in</strong> the population is expected to take place at a constant fertility, which is about 6.6 births per female.<br />

55 Thompson 1998,1999, op cit.<br />

58 Ibid.

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