“We want to attract a greater number of tourists into this part of Southern Africa. We want to coordinate this initiative to ensure that it increases tourism activity and the countries will share the spoils,” said Mabuyakhulu.

The East3Route is set to exploit the Indian Ocean Coast north of Durban – a rarely visited part of South Africa. It also aims to draw visitors into the eastern lowveld of Swaziland and southern Mozambique. For decades much of the proposed route was off limits due to Mozambique’s civil war and post-war reconstruction.

“It’s a dialogue of culture. The route has always been there but now we are doing it with business in mind,” said Swazi Minister of Tourism and Environmental Affairs Macford Sibandze.

A delegation of officials from the three countries will test the route on 24 October.