MASERU – THE Lesotho Tourism Development Corporation (LTDC) is working closely with the private sector to promote tourism.
The LTDC spokesman Molapo Matela told a press conference yesterday that they will hold a Gin and Trout Lesotho Festival on December 3 and 4 to promote tourism in Lesotho.
The festival will be held in Thaba-Bosiu. Matela said the LTDC was going out of its way to partner with the private sector so as to improve tourism in the country.
“The collaboration with Gin and Trout Festival is the beginning of this endeavor,” Matela said.
The Head of Strategic Marketing at the LTDC, Tebello Thola, said their mandate is to promote tourism in the country.
He said the tourism sector can be a tonic to Lesotho’s economy by generating more jobs.
“More tourists mean more job creation, and will uplift the livelihoods of the people and result in economic growth,” Thola said.
“As the LTDC, our major role is to create a conducive environment for the private sector to grow,” he said.
Thola said they found this collaboration important. He called for the private sector to come on board and work with them.
“We have just started with the tourism levy collection which will in turn benefit the private sector,” he said.
“This serves as a motivation for the private sector to work hand in hand with them for the development of this industry.”
The organiser of the Gin and Trout Festival, Tšokolo Makeka, said the festival must be taken seriously.
“Trout is a major resource for Lesotho which has put Lesotho on the forefront,” Makeka said.
“The trout industry has the potential to grow,” he said.
“The gin industry is also one of the booming industries in the world which accommodates everyone.”
He said Lesotho is rich with natural resources which are used to manufacture gin, adding that the quality of water the country has is an added advantage.
However, he said we still have the challenge of high unemployment.
He said the event will help showcase what Lesotho has to offer.
He said this will help promote the value chain in the tourism industry.
Makeka said they are ready to partner with everyone in the value chain including chefs, craft makers and those in the hospitality industry.
He said they are expecting more entrepreneurs to come and sell their products during the event.
He said they have already partnered with Khutsong Lodge in Thaba-Bosiu, where the event will be held.
He said the two-day event will also give tourists an opportunity to see what Lesotho has.
It will promote the entire industry, he said.
Refiloe Mpobole