Africa-Press – Lesotho. Following weeks of attracting hostile international headlines, Lesotho has this week received a mention as one of the best tourist’s attraction places to
visit in 2020 by the New York Times newspaper. Out of fifty-two places to be visited, Lesotho sits at position twelve. This development will see the image of the Mountain Kingdom enhanced in the
international arena by what it has got to offer as visitors and tourists are expected to add it to their bucket list. Known as a place with breathtaking scenery and natural resources endowed country, supplying
its neighboring South Africa, Lesotho is well positioned to attract high volumes of visitors in the coming months. “We are very excited by the mention in the New York Times as it is widely read and
it will impact on tourism and increase number of visitors…. There is an underlying optimism in tourism circles …2020 will be the start of the growth circle…,” said Malealea lodge General Manager, Michael Deutschmann when asked to
comment on the mention of their establishment. Deutschmann is hopeful that there will be voluminous increase in the tourism industry. He went on to point out that South African media should cover Lesotho’s news
stories. This is a move he believes will quell the perceptions that Lesotho is not a safe country or tourists destination. In an interview with Informative Newspaper Public Relations Officer of Lesotho
Tourism Development Corporation (LTDC) Matela Molapo pointed that as the corporation, they are impressed by these developments and are proud that the country has received international recognition.
“We are working very hard as LTDC for Lesotho
to be a tourist attraction place and we are exploiting all communication avenues to market her,” he said. Molapo also mentioned that as a corporation,
they attend international tourism exhibition conferences internationally and regionally in an attempt to appeal prospective tourists to visit the Mountain
Kingdom. He continued to mention that LTDC attends the high powered international tourism conferences and festivals alongside local tour guides operators.
“We also ask the international tour guides to feature Lesotho in their itineraries,” he said. Reacting
to these news, Nthabiseng Tolofi who is the Secretary General for Mountain Kingdom Tour Association, expressed their excitement as an association. “We are
ready to give them a warm reception so that they will visit again and spread the news (about their stay in Lesotho) upon returning to their destinations,”
she said. She further added that as an organization they run a campaign to bring awareness to tourists to avoid dubious tour guides who will scam them.
Lesotho Hotels and Hospitality Association through their Chairperson ‘Marethabile Sekhiba, expressed their happiness for Lesotho receiving such limelight on a
global scale. This, she said shows that something interesting is happening in the country. “This is a great opportunity for the tourism industry and we need
to work in sync with other relevant stakeholders within the industry,” she said. She also pleaded with the LTDC and the Ministry of Tourism, Environment and Culture
to upgrade the heritage and tourists’ visiting sites lest they become white elephants. Meanwhile, the government of Lesotho has placed tourism as one of the priority areas to
boost the economy. Lesotho offers wide array of activities to explore, from abseiling, skiing, rock climbing, national parks, wildlife, to nature reserve and rich flora and fauna.
