The Ministry of Tourism, Enviroment and Culture has a pilot project to establish B&Bs in Morija. (with the aim of contributing towards the policy of poverty reduction and employment creation) A Task Force was formed to spearhead the process/implement the project (embarking on tourism awareness and educational campaigns focusing on communities aiming at encouraging them to establish B&Bs.

B&B's will:

•  Attract tourist in the country (few hotels cater for commercial and official visitors

•  Provide affordable accommodation (for back packers)

•  Create employment

Membership comprises different departments of the Ministry only and the project is directly under the Minister. So far, public rallies/awareness campaigns were held in Morija to sensitise the community about B&Bs. 17 houses were therefore registered and out of this 3 qualified while 6 had potential and therefore required minor touches. Though the project is to be piloted in Morija, some houses were identified and inspected in Maseru . It is planned that some of these B&B's in Maseru would be used for the Roof of Africa Rally.

Targeted people to establish B&B's – Retired and pensioners

B&Bs to be licensed by the Licensing Board

Objectives of B&Bs

•  Provide affordable accommodation

•  Create employment

•  Empower women and youth in business

•  Promote cultural interaction and understand of the host and guests to create peace among nations

Progress to date

•  Strategy developed, contains objectives

•  Draft Guidelines available developed using course modules from Sunday Times

•  Act on Accommodation and catering services exist. However, it has to be revised to cater for B&B's

•  Meetings held every Thursday ( 14:30 hours) and Friday ( 11:00 hours with the Minister to report on progress)

•  Mobilisation of people interested in establishing B&B's

•  Pitsos held in Morijas and inspection of 17 houses done where 3 qualified

•  Morija Executive Committee on B&Bs was also established to work with the TF

•  Pitso's held at Tsehlanyane on B&Bs, as per the community request/interest on B&Bs

•  Houses identified in Maseru and inspected as well. They will cater for Roof Africa Rally

•  Meetings being held with all poetential B&B owners

•  Familiarisation tour of all identified places in Maseru (Task Force)

Plans

To achieve the object, the B&B TF will:

•  Hold awareness and educational campaigns focusing on establishing B&Bs

•  Develop B&B guidelines

•  Initiate training for the local operators and training of trainers

•  PS to follow-up with the Ministry of Tourism RSA on the training of trainers on B&Bs, which RSA has volunteered to provide – TF members and Field Licensing Officers to be trained

•  Project to extend to other districts – Sehlabathebe, Butha-Buthe etc

•  Section to be established later on to deal with regularisation and monitoring of B&B's, which the TF would hand over to them