The Prime Minister Mr. Samuel Ntsokoane Matekane has officiated a three-day Women in Tourism Lesotho Association (WITLA) Summit Expo, the event will be held in Maseru on Monday.
In his keynote address, Mr. Matekane said the government is Provo-led to become part of the WITLA summit expo whose aim is to empower women entrepreneurs.
He said Lesotho has signed the 2030 agenda for sustainable development to end poverty and hunger everywhere, to combat inequalities within and among countries to build peaceful, just and inclusive societies, to protect human rights and promote gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls as well as to ensure the lasting protection of the planet and its natural resources.
”We also resolve to create conditions for sustainable, inclusive and sustained economic growth, shared prosperity and decent work for all, taking into account different levels of national development and capacities”, he said.
He pointed out that the tourism sector is a one-million-dollar industry that has the potential to positively impact the country’s economy and people at large hence the need to put more focus on it.
Mr. Matekane applauded the WITLA for the good initiative it took to create a platform for women to share information and ideas on how best they can tackle business, saying the government is committed to making women’s dreams a reality.
Also speaking, the President of WITLA Ms. Matšeliso Mokuoane said the summit is meant to empower women in the tourism sector and to appreciate them for the work that they do.
Ms. Mokuoane said tourism is everyone’s business and the aim is to nurture the sector to become one of the top businesses in the country.
She said culturally and traditionally women are into housekeeping and in hospitality, housekeeping is one of the most important elements therefore, women have potential for growth in this business because most of them already have skills, passion and collected resources.
She explained that for women who are keen on tourism, with additional exposure they make a successful business because they are social entrepreneurs, adding that they socially and economically impact more lives positively.
Speaking on behalf of Women of Value Southern Africa, Dr Dimakatso Malwela from South Africa noted that with the summit, they aim to spot and identify relevant stakeholders that will assist them in bringing the sector to its best.
Dr Malwela said the tourism sector in Africa is classified as a steep growth sector after the COVID-19 pandemic therefore, as women in tourism, they wish to join efforts to make it lively again.
She said by hosting this summit, they will not only make Lesotho a preferred tourism and investment destination but also expose the myriad of magnificent attraction sites that Lesotho is endowed with.
The primary objective of this summit is to unite women, fostering the exchange of experiences and knowledge among themselves to enhance their success in the industry.
Source LENA: 27/ 11/2023
