In June 2023, The Hospitality & Tourism Association of Eswatini (HOTAES) made a comeback with the hosting of their Annual Tour Guides course. After a 3-year hiatus due to COVID-19, they are now resuming the course on an annual basis. HOTAES originally started offering the course in 1995 to address the issue of tour guides in Eswatini providing incorrect and opinionated information to tourists. Over the years, the course has evolved to adapt to changing economics and demographics.
As the Hospitality and Tourism Association of Eswatini, HOTAES aims to ensure that tour guides provide accurate and reliable information to tourists, avoiding misinformation sourced from the internet or personal opinions. Prior to the pandemic, they had educated over 1000 guides.
Following the 2023 course, HOTAES plans to revamp and modernize some requirements. In addition to the application form, they will now consider registration as a guide in the home country and other countries where the guides operate. This change aims to attract individuals with a genuine interest in guiding within Eswatini.
In June 2023, HOTAES successfully hosted 36 guides, including both local and regional guides, who were eager to learn about Eswatini. The course covered various subjects such as geography, history, culture, archaeology, current affairs, flora, fauna, and visits to popular tourist destinations within Eswatini.
All 36 guides passed the exam at the end of the course, becoming certified guides for Eswatini. The guides thoroughly enjoyed the experience, and HOTAES received rave reviews.
Looking ahead to 2024, HOTAES plans to host the course again, most likely in June or July. More information will be released once costs have been assessed. Interested individuals are encouraged to contact HOTAES to have their names listed and be the first to receive information about the 2024 course.
HOTAES is excited about what 2024 holds and looks forward to welcoming new guides to join them on this educational journey.