Butha-Buthe, Nov. 04 — The Lesotho Tourism Development Corporation (LTDC) visited the community of ‘Moteng and students at ‘Moteng Community Primary School to raise awareness about the importance of tourism for Lesotho and its citizens.
Molapo Matela, a representative from LTDC, explained that the visit was prompted by a recent incident that circulated on social media, alleging that children in ‘Moteng, Maseru, had thrown stones at tourists’ vehicles, damaging property and injuring a visitor. Matela warned that such incidents, especially when publicized online, could discourage potential tourists from visiting Lesotho, leading to a loss of revenue for the country.
Matela noted that the injured tourist, who was en route to Afri-Ski, was forced to abandon his plans and return home due to his injuries. He said LTDC initially released a statement condemning the incident, but they decided it was crucial to follow up with an in-person visit to educate the community and ensure that similar events do not happen in the future.
In addressing the community, Matela highlighted the value of tourism, urging them to foster a welcoming environment for visitors. He emphasized how tourism benefits communities directly by opening up investment opportunities and boosting the local economy. “Tourism is a cornerstone for any nation, and when tourists visit Lesotho, they often see opportunities to invest, which contributes to our country’s growth,” he added.
