Africa-Press – Lesotho. Tourism players in Lesotho will this weekend meet at the ’Manthabiseng Convention Centre to discuss how they can craft effective strategies to expand the sector and improve its value chain.
The conference is being held in collaboration with the Lesotho Tourism Development Corporation (LTDC) and the Women in Tourism Lesotho Association (WITLA).
Matšeliso Mokuoane, WITLA president, said the conference is a national event supported by the government and the Lesotho National Development Corporation (LNDC).
Mokuoane said they are expecting between 250 and 350 delegates at the conference from women in business, local and international buyers, exhibitors, dignitaries that include the Prime Minister, and potential investors.
“We are anticipating that as a business community we will be able to forge strategic trading partnerships,” Mokuoane said. She said they are also eyeing at forming collaborations that will contribute to the regional economic growth.
“We are calling on private sector members, women and youth-owned and co-owned tourism players (those already in business and aspiring) to join the association,” she said.
She called on interested tourism businesses to attend the conference for the growth of the sector. Tebello Thoola, the acting Chief Executive Officer at the LTDC, applauded the work of WITLA in mobilizing players in the tourism sector to join the association.
“It is our expectation that WITLA like other associations in the tourism sector shall also join the LCT (Lesotho Council of Tourism) which has been established as an umbrella body for the tourism sector,” Thoola said.
Thoola said the LTDC has a programme that is targeted at promoting women-owned tourism businesses. He said not much could be done due to limited funding.
“It is our hope that the budget allocation will improve in the coming years,” he said.
“The LTDC intends to support annual national tourism forums for women in tourism in the coming years, preparing them for the regional WITLA summits.”
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