Nthatuoa Koeshe
PRIME Minister Moeketsi Majoro has called for more investment into the tourism sector to boost the economy.
Dr Majoro was speaking during the launch of Lesotho’s Tourism Month commemoration campaign led by the Lesotho Tourism Development Corporation (LTDC) at Butha-Buthe Visitor Comfort Facility last weekend.
The event, which featured an exhibition for locally made wares, allowed tourism enterprises to meet, network and showcase their products.
Held in collaboration with Southern Express, the operators of Visitors’ Comfort, the event was meant to showcase and promote Butha-Buthe as a business and tourism destination.
Joining Dr Majoro during the occasion was Butha-Buthe district administrator, Tšepa Chaba, LTDC chief executive officer Sehlabaka Ramafikeng, government officials, tourism enterprises, and area chiefs among others.
Dr Majoro told guests that tourism was one of the sectors that had great potential to grow the country’s economy but was hamstrung by serious constraints.
The challenges include lack of investment, he said.
“The tourism sector has the potential to grow the country’s economy but there are some few challenges such as lack of investment,” Dr Majoro said.
He said there was need for high standard hotels and lodges to lure tourists from lodging in South African accommodation facilities while visiting Lesotho.
On his part, Mr Ramafikeng said this year’s commemoration came at a time when the tourism industry had been hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic. He encouraged locals to take time to visit different tourist destinations to get to know more about their country.
Butha-Buthe Visitor Comfort Facility manager, Motlatsi Russell, said it was important to launch the commemoration with such an exhibition after Lesotho had gone for a long time without any tourists.
Lesotho commemorates Tourism Month in line with the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO’s) World Tourism Day. The day was first celebrated in 1980. Since then it has been commemorated annually on 27 September to underscore the importance of tourism in economic development.
This year, the day will be celebrated under the theme: “Tourism for inclusive growth”.
