Nthatuoa Koeshe

THE Lesotho Tourism Development Corporation on Friday hosted a tour of the Afriski Mountain Resort in Butha-Buthe for different partners with a view to promote domestic tourism.

The South African and local partners included the Mantsopa Local Municipality (SA), the South African Department of Home Affairs, the South African Revenue Services (SARS), the Lesotho Revenue Authority (LRA), the Land Administrative Authority (LAA), Vodacom Lesotho, Econet Lesotho, the Central Bank of Lesotho and the Lesotho PostBank.

Staff from the organisations took part in different activities offered at Afriski Mountain Resort such as skiing, tubing and bum boarding with first timers getting free lessons.

LTDC strategic marketing manager Nkuebe Lerotholi said the aim of the tour was to promote skiing as one of the unique activities found in Lesotho

He said the tour was strategic so that all the invited guests would become ambassadors for the country’s tourism.

“We are expecting people to come to Lesotho in large numbers to enjoy some of these activities so that the sector contributes meaningfully to the country’s economy,” Lerotholi said.

He said the initiative is now two years old adding that they are also planning on also similar tours to places like Semonkong, Mohale, and Sehlabathebe later this year.

“We believe that such initiatives promote tourism and grows the economy.”

From the Ladybrand Mantsopa Municipality Mayor’s office, Majoro Mpuru expressed his awe at the his Afriski experience. He said this was his first time to see such snow in Africa and expressed gratitude to the LTDC for the initiative.

“People need to know places like this one and consider visiting them because the experience here is unforgettable and I know that most people will enjoy,” Mpuru said.

He however, advised the LTDC and tourism players to come up with local pricing for locals to avoid turning tourist destinations being preserves for foreign tourists only.

Vodacom’s ‘Mathato Machekela described the tour as an eye opener saying it helped her realise some of the opportunities that could be seized to push the same agenda with the LTDC to promote tourism.

She said since most events are concentrated in Maseru, Afriski Mountain Resort can offer variance.

“This place offers a great experience and because most people often don’t consider touring their country due to lack of money, I am enlightened and now know that some of these experiences do not cost as much as we often think they do,” ‘Mathato said.