Lesotho, a Tourism Destination: An Analysis of Lesotho's Current Tourism Products and Potential for Growth

Introduction: Mapping The Tourism Landscape Of Lesotho

The United Nation’s World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) reports that tourist arrivals surpassed 1 billion for the first time in 2012. Despite occasional shocks, international tourist arrivals have enjoyed virtually uninterrupted growth – from 277 million in 1980 to 528 million in 1995, and 1.035 billion in 2012. Developing countries are playing an increasingly prominent role in this growing sector. Tourism is one of the top three exports for the majority of developing counties and for at least 22 Least Developed Countries (LDCs) (including Lesotho) (World Trade Organization, 2013).

As of 2012, according to the World Economic Forum, the Tourism industry in Lesotho is worth USD152.3million, almost 7% of the country’s economy (World Economic Forum 2013). The industry is slated to grow 4.4% in value during the time period 2013 – 2022. It currently employs 34,000 Lesotho natives representing 6% of the workforce. With the expected growth of the international tourism industry, Lesotho should take the opportunity to use the tourism sector as a primary driver for their national economy.

Aside from the pure economic benefit, tourism has many other social benefits that are intangible according to UNWTO’s Secretary-General Taleb Rifai (2013), including:

• 1.

  Jobs

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    Especially for young people smooth and soft entry into the labour market.

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    People don’t have to move. Jobs are where they are/grew up.

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    For every 1 Tourism job, 1.4 extra jobs are created in parallel sectors – multiplier effect.A hotel employing 100 persons creates 250 indirect jobs (International Labour Organization, 2010).

• 2.

  Infrastructure Development

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    Roads and other forms of transit are usually built or improved upon with the onset of tourism operations. While this facilitates the tourists who visit, it also directly benefits the local community who now have access to these public goods. Additionally, more often than not, tourism in LDCs tends to be in rural areas – meaning rural areas would benefit from infrastructure development not otherwise extended to them.

Tourism development has been identified by the Lesotho government, International Monetary Fund as well as the United Nations World Tourism Organization as a sector that will reduce poverty as well as absorb many low or semi skilled labor (Rifai, 2013). Boosting the tourism sector in the Kingdom will alleviate poverty in the Kingdom overall. If developed well, tourism could effectively lead an LDC country like Lesotho out of poverty like it did for Cape Verde, a small chain of islands off the west coast of Africa who graduated from LDC status in 2007.

Mobility and accommodations are two fundamental factors in determining the volume, costs and eligibility of tourism. As a result, these basic infrastructures affect the attractiveness of tourist operations and investment from abroad. A detail analysis of the macro picture including the border entry, existing hospitality establishment and other facilities is presented here.

Points And Means Of Tourist Entry Into Lesotho

Lesotho is a landlocked country completely surrounded by the Republic of South Africa. One of the biggest challenges facing many international tourists planning a trip to Lesotho is how to get to the Kingdom. The follow section will review the entry points tourists can make use in order to gain entry into the Kingdom and related transport service provision.