Lesotho Country Commercial Guide
Learn about the market conditions, opportunities, regulations, and business conditions in lesotho, prepared by at U.S. Embassies worldwide by Commerce Department, State Department and other U.S. agencies’ professionals
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Tourism
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Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation 

Overview  

Lesotho has spectacular scenery and potential for eco-tourism. The rugged countryside makes Lesotho ideal for off-road sports. The country hosts the Roof of Africa motorcycle rally annually and has introduced other annual events such as the Maletsunyane Falls braai festival and the Lesotho sky cycling event. Lesotho is home to the world’s longest commercial single-drop abseil and Sub-Saharan Africa’s only ski resort. In addition, Lesotho has good air and road connections with South Africa and is working to improve internal infrastructure, such as roads, to accommodate the tourism industry. South Africa draws large numbers of international tourists, creating an opportunity to attract side-trips to Lesotho.

The tourism industry is actively promoted by the Lesotho government, and a number of hotels, mountain lodges and national parks have been developed in recent years. The Lesotho Tourism Development Corporation (LTDC), a government agency responsible for promotion of tourism, supports tourism sector investment and offers limited incentives to investors.  The LTDC reported over one million tourists visited Lesotho in 2024. Lesotho has forged cooperation with South African tour guides to bring tourist who visit the country to Lesotho contributing to influx of tourists who visit the country 

Tourism Sub-Sector Best Prospects                                                              

  • Boating Excursions on Dams, Canoeing, and other Recreational Activities
  • Accommodation Facilities and Resort Developments
  • Ski-resorts, Equipment, and Related Service
  • Mountain Hiking and Camping Activities
  • Biking and 4 by 4 Off Road Activities
     

Opportunities   

The tourism sector stands to benefit from the LHWP, as both existing and planned dams offer notable opportunities for water sports and recreational activities. Another unique feature is Lesotho’s altitude; it is the only country in the world entirely situated above 1,000 meters. This makes Lesotho an ideal location for developing high-altitude sports training facilities. The hotel industry also presents strong potential. Lesotho remains under-supplied with quality accommodations, particularly near key tourism sites. Most South African tourists visit Lesotho for day trips and return to South Africa for overnight stays.

Resources  

Lesotho Tourism Development Corporation: http://www.ldtc.org.ls /  
Afriski: https://afriski.net/ 

Contacts 
Lesotho Tourism Development Corporation 
P.O.Box 
Tel: (266) 22312238 
 

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