MASERU — The Ministry of Tourism, Sports, Arts and Culture has called for stronger partnerships and practical action to transform Lesotho’s tourism potential into sustainable economic opportunities for Basotho.

Speaking at the opening of the first Tourism Pitso in Maseru on Wednesday, Minister of Tourism, Sports, Arts and Culture Mr. Mputi Mputi said the Pitso brings together government, business, development partners, tourism practitioners, young people and creatives to discuss ways of strengthening the tourism sector.

He said Lesotho has abundant tourism assets, including its mountains, rich culture, adventure experiences, horse riding, music festivals and crafts, as well as the authenticity of its people.

“Having these tourism assets is not enough. We must turn our assets into products, our products into businesses and our businesses into investment opportunities that create sustainable livelihoods, especially within local communities,” he said.
Mr. Mputi said the Tourism Pitso provides a platform to move beyond discussions by identifying opportunities, building partnerships, expanding market access and finding practical solutions to challenges facing the tourism sector.
He cited the 2025 Roof of Africa Rally, which attracted more riders from international countries, as an example of tourism’s economic potential.

He also said the Maletsunyane Braai Festival attracted approximately 15 000 people, demonstrating the ability of tourism events to generate economic activity across communities.

Mr .Mputi stressed that tourism growth should be inclusive, saying women, young people, MSMEs, artisans, tour guides, transport operators and communities should have meaningful opportunities to participate in the tourism value chain.
He said the success of the 2026 Tourism Pitso would ultimately be measured by what happens after the event, including the formation of partnerships, attraction of investment, application of knowledge gained and expansion of Lesotho’s tourism products into regional and international markets. The Minister encouraged participants to embrace innovation, identify opportunities and turn discussions into measurable action.

Meanwhile, Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism, Sports, Arts and Culture Mrs. Mantiti Khabo said the Tourism Pitso provides an opportunity for stakeholders to reflect on what they expect to achieve from the gathering.
She said Tourism Month provides Lesotho with an opportunity to showcase its capabilities and capacity in tourism, adding that stakeholders should begin by identifying what needs to be achieved.

Mrs. Khabo urged every participant to undertake introspection and consider what they expect to gain from the Tourism Pitso.
The Tourism Pitso is being held for the first time in Lesotho as part of efforts to bring together key stakeholders to discuss the development and growth of the country’s tourism sector.