LTDC ramps up domestic tourism

MOKHOTLONG – VISIT Lesotho first. This is a clear message the Lesotho Tourism Development Corporation (LTDC) is passing to Basotho as it steps up efforts to ramp up domestic tourism. The LTDC says has embarked on a project to “re-introduce” the top tourist attraction sites in Lesotho. Last Friday the LTDC took selected locals and companies to visit Afriski in Mokhotlong to enjoy sliding on the snow, an adventure mostly adored by foreign tourists every winter in Lesotho. LTDC public relations officer, Molapo Matela, said they are on a push to promote domestic tourism in the country. “We are encouraging Basotho to visit their country (first) before going out to other countries,” Matela said. Matela said tourism can be an anchor for economic growth in Lesotho and requires more support from local people. He said they are now working with higher institutions of learning and private companies to encourage them to support domestic tourism. He said they are working closely with companies such as Metropolitan Lesotho and Alliance Insurance Company. He said they also made a deal with Lerotholi Polytechnic, Limkokwing University of Creative Technology, and IBC College. He said so far they have visited Semonkong, Malea-lea and Afriski. “Ever since we started, we have seen much growth with local people visiting these places,” he said. However, he said the only drawback has been complaints by locals of the high fees to access these places of interest. A lecturer in the Department of Tourism at Limkokwing University, Limapa Likhang, said there are so many beautiful places of interest in the country which are managed by foreign people. “What do we need as Basotho to be empowered so that we can take part in the operation of tourism places?” Likhang said. He said tourism is so huge on its own and people should see it as a business opportunity to venture into. “We have the skills but what we lack is the confidence (to run such businesses),” he said. He said the Covid-19 pandemic could be a boon for tourism as most people are now restricted from visiting other countries. “What is required is for all of us to support domestic tourism,” he said. However, he said Lesotho’s economy is not in a good space to support domestic tourism. “Most of the people earn lower incomes which doesn’t allow them to budget for leisure expenses,” he said. Likhang said even people who have more money still need education on the importance of supporting domestic tourism. “We still need to remove the culture of considering tourism as wandering around,” he said. He said we need to educate even some companies that tourism can also positively impact their productivity. The General Manager of Afriski, Vivienne Schultz, said the tourism industry was still doing well last year up until the country was placed into lockdown. However, she said they are recovering from that knock. She said they had already secured 70 percent of their bookings for the winter season. “People are already booking for next year,” she said. Nonetheless, they need more support from the government especially on the times that the border gates operate and visa issues for foreign tourists. She said they are using more electricity to generate the snow since it is no longer that cold in the country. So this drives the prices very high. “In winter, electricity cost amounts to M500 000,” she said. She said, however, they have special packages for local tourists in an attempt to encourage Basotho to support domestic tourism. The number of foreign tourists in Lesotho was reported at 1 142 000 in 2019, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognised sources. Refiloe Mpobole