WORLD TOURISM DAY

Lesotho Tourism Development Corporation (LTDC) and partners in the form of Ministry of Tourism Environment and Culture (MTEC) and tourism private sector commemorated the World Tourism Day on Friday 12 th October 2007. In line with latest practice to empower women the theme for this year's World Tourism Day was a fitting “Tourism Opens Doors for Women”. The day's celebrations were a culmination of a series of activities that were lined up for the tourism Month which started in September 2007. These events included sponsoring a poem competition at this year's Morija Cultural competitions, special welcome for international tourists at key border posts on September 27 th 2007, which is internationally the official world tourism day. The border post welcome for tourists saw the lucky travelers receiving a gift pack of information brochure, LTDC branded pens, chocolates and a miniature Basotho souvernir.

Lesotho celebrated the World Tourism Day on the 12 th October, 2007 to allow key stakeholders in Lesotho tourism to participate in the event. This is important because one of the objectives of celebrating the day is to continue to raise awareness about tourism as a means to contribute to current national goals such as poverty reduction, jobs creation and income generation for the explicit purpose of improving the lives of Basotho. The celebration of the World Tourism Day provided a good opportunity for the Minister of Tourism Environment and Culture to take advantage of the occasion to launch a domestic tourism awareness campaign – Lesotho Haeso and the National Performing Troupe.

The programme for the day included a float (walk) from the Maseru border post to Manthabiseng Convention Centre in which main stakeholders from LTDC, MTEC and the private sector took part. The colourful display of orange caps and blue t-shirts was well complemented by the tastefully branded LTDC vehicles, which showcased the Lesotho flagship tourism attractions such as Katse dam, Maletsunyane and pony trekking. In accordance with the theme, women participants were in the majority and they featured in giving inspirational speeches about how tourism is sustaining women. It is encouraging to observe that more and more Basotho are becoming aware of tourism and the potential the sector possesses to generate more jobs and improve people's livelihoods. Equally encouraging is the fact that within government circles there is seemingly more awareness and willingness to create an environment for this potential to be utilized. With World Cup 2010 just around the corner, it is imperative that all the support for tourism initiatives is mobilized for the benefit of the country.