Lesotho to Host First Annual Tourism Pitso to Drive Investment and Growth

The Ministry of Tourism, Sports, Arts and Culture, through the Lesotho Tourism Development Corporation (LTDC), has announced the First Annual Tourism Pitso, an important platform aimed at strengthening the country’s tourism industry and unlocking new investment opportunities. The announcement was made during a press conference held today at the Manthabiseng Convention Centre. The two-day event will bring together key stakeholders from across Lesotho’s tourism sector to discuss opportunities, challenges and practical ways to accelerate growth. The Tourism Pitso is expected to create stronger connections between businesses, investors, government institutions and other participants in the tourism value chain. It also reflects the Government of Lesotho’s growing focus on tourism as a sector that can support economic transformation, employment and inclusive growth.

Officiating the briefing, LTDC Chief Executive Officer Mrs. Mamello Morojele encouraged Basotho operating across the tourism value chain to take full advantage of the upcoming platform. She called on tourism businesses and service providers to use the event as an opportunity to showcase their products and services to potential clients and investors. This approach is intended to give local businesses greater visibility while helping investors identify opportunities within Lesotho’s tourism industry. Morojele also emphasised the importance of meaningful collaboration, noting that the Pitso is designed to create partnerships that can contribute to significant transformation across the sector. Stronger cooperation between businesses, investors and public institutions could help turn existing tourism opportunities into viable projects with lasting economic benefits.

The First Annual Tourism Pitso will take place at the Manthabiseng Convention Centre on 16 and 17 September 2026. Over the two days, stakeholders from different parts of Lesotho’s tourism sector will have an opportunity to engage directly on issues affecting the industry and explore opportunities for future development. Bringing these stakeholders together in one platform can help create a clearer understanding of the needs and potential of the sector. It can also provide businesses with an opportunity to establish relationships with potential partners and investors. The event is therefore positioned as both a discussion forum and a practical platform for promoting tourism opportunities across the country.

The programme will include panel discussions, presentations, investment promotion forums and exhibitions designed to encourage meaningful engagement among participants. Panel discussions can provide an opportunity for industry representatives and other stakeholders to exchange perspectives on the future of tourism and discuss issues affecting businesses. Presentations will provide space to share information, ideas and opportunities with a wider audience. Investment promotion forums will focus attention on potential projects and opportunities that could attract both local and foreign investors. The exhibitions will further allow businesses to showcase their products and services directly to participants, giving local tourism operators an opportunity to demonstrate what Lesotho has to offer.

One of the key objectives of the Tourism Pitso is to strengthen dialogue between the public and private sectors. Tourism development depends on cooperation between government institutions that establish policies and support infrastructure and private businesses that provide products and services to visitors. Regular engagement between these sectors can help identify barriers to investment and develop practical solutions that support business growth. It can also help ensure that tourism development strategies respond to the realities faced by operators on the ground. By bringing public and private sector stakeholders together, the Pitso aims to create a stronger foundation for collaboration and coordinated tourism development.

Investment promotion will form an important part of the event as Lesotho seeks to showcase and package existing opportunities for both local and foreign direct investment. The country has tourism assets that can support opportunities across accommodation, attractions, hospitality, outdoor activities, cultural experiences and related services. Presenting these opportunities in a structured way can make it easier for potential investors to understand where investment could contribute to the sector. Local businesses can also benefit by finding potential partners who can provide funding, expertise, technology or market access. The Tourism Pitso therefore has the potential to connect tourism opportunities with the resources needed to develop them into sustainable businesses and projects.

The emphasis on showcasing local tourism products is also important for increasing the participation of Basotho in the tourism value chain. Tourism can create opportunities for accommodation providers, restaurants, tour operators, transport businesses, cultural practitioners, artisans and other service providers. When these businesses are connected to visitors and investors, tourism spending can circulate through different parts of the economy. Supporting local participation can also help ensure that the benefits of tourism reach communities rather than remaining concentrated in a limited number of businesses. The Tourism Pitso provides an opportunity to highlight these enterprises and encourage partnerships that can expand their contribution to the national tourism economy.

The Government of Lesotho has identified tourism investment as a strategic priority because of the sector’s potential to contribute to economic transformation. Tourism can create employment opportunities across a range of skill levels while supporting entrepreneurship and the development of small and medium-sized businesses. Investment in tourism can also stimulate demand for related services, including transport, food production, retail, construction and creative industries. This creates the potential for tourism growth to generate economic activity beyond traditional tourism businesses. By prioritising investment in the sector, the Government aims to use Lesotho’s tourism potential as part of a broader strategy for economic development and job creation.

The focus on inclusive growth is another important aspect of the Tourism Pitso because a growing tourism industry can create opportunities for communities and entrepreneurs across the country. Tourism development can support local businesses when visitors purchase locally produced goods, use local services and participate in community-based experiences. It can also create opportunities for young people and entrepreneurs to enter the industry through new businesses and innovative tourism products. Greater investment can provide the infrastructure and resources needed to expand these opportunities. Ensuring that local communities and businesses have a meaningful role in tourism development will be important if the sector is to contribute to broad-based economic growth.

The First Annual Tourism Pitso comes at an important time for Lesotho’s tourism sector as the country seeks to attract investment and strengthen its position as a tourism destination. The event provides a structured platform for stakeholders to move beyond discussions and explore practical partnerships, investment opportunities and new approaches to tourism development. The involvement of the LTDC and the Ministry of Tourism, Sports, Arts and Culture demonstrates the importance being placed on coordinated efforts to grow the sector. For Basotho tourism operators, the event represents an opportunity to present their businesses to potential clients and investors while building valuable industry relationships. If the platform succeeds in converting discussions into partnerships and investment, it could become an important annual driver of tourism development.

The First Annual Tourism Pitso is ultimately intended to create stronger connections between Lesotho’s tourism potential and the investment, partnerships and innovation needed to unlock it. The event on 16 and 17 September 2026 will bring together stakeholders for two days of discussions, presentations, investment promotion activities and exhibitions focused on the future of the sector. Mrs. Mamello Morojele’s call for Basotho in the tourism value chain to participate highlights the importance of ensuring that local businesses are visible within the investment conversation. With tourism positioned as a priority for economic transformation, job creation and inclusive growth, the Pitso could provide a valuable platform for turning existing opportunities into sustainable economic activity. Its success will depend on the willingness of stakeholders to collaborate, pursue practical opportunities and continue building a tourism sector that creates value for businesses, investors and communities across Lesotho.