The Minister of Tourism, Environment and Culture says tourism sector has a potential of creating jobs across the market spectrum, generating income and significantly improving the nation's economic welfare and thereby reducing poverty in the process.

Speaking at the inaugural of National Tourism Conference, Ms. Lebohang Nts'inyi said tourism contributes a lot to the economic growth hence a need for it to be developed for the betterment of the country and the public at large.

She said the conference came at an opportune time when government is making various efforts to develop tourism industry and its theme 'Tourism-Creating Benefits for All' ties in well with what the government of Lesotho envisages tourism to do.

She said government believes tourism development should be pursued as it has long been acknowledged that the inherent physical and cultural qualities of Lesotho as a country lend it suitable for tourism development and utilization to meet the pressing needs of the country.

'It is these attributes, along with the sustained and robust growth of international tourism that have prompted the government to identify tourism as one of the key economic drivers,' she added.

Ms. Nts'inyi said in its efforts to develop tourism industry, the country developed a national tourism policy in 2000 that establishes guidelines and a framework for the growth and development of tourism in the country.

She said the policy outlines the vision for tourism as to develop Lesotho into a quality destination and to make tourism industry the biggest national employer and revenue earner by the year 2020.

The Minister said tourism sector is therefore expected to contribute to economic growth, develop competitive and dynamic products, ensure that local communities benefit most, while making sure that the country's cultural heritage and natural spaces are not adversely affected.

The Chief Executive of the Lesotho Tourism Development Corporation (LTDC), Mr. Mthwalo Mthwalo said the conference is expected to discuss opportunities and challenges that exist in the tourism sector and come up with approaches in form of recommendations regarding what should be done in order to realise tourism development aspirations.

He added that these recommendations will be collected and analysed with view to categorising them into those that require political, policy and technical interventions.

This is first ever Annual National Tourism Conference to be held in the country and it will end on Friday with a tour of all participants to Mohale Dam.

Source: LENA 23/01/2008