09/09/10, 22:04:26 EDT

  e-mail this article

SA celebrates tourism deal with Lesotho

iol.co.za

South Africa and Lesotho on Tuesday celebrated a ten year Maloti-Drakensberg Transfrontier Conservation and Development Area agreement.

Deputy Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism Rejoice Mabudafhasi said the department aims to position southern Africa's six Transfrontier Conservation Areas as a single tourism route and international destination for 2010.

"We want to market the SADC (the Southern African Development Community) as one destination," said Mabudafhasi.

During celebrations at Giants Castle a book, "Maloti Drakensberg Experience," was launched, which highlights the main attractions of the Maloti-Drakensberg Tourism Route.

The route promotes and eases cross-border tourism between Lesotho and three South African provinces, KwaZulu-Natal, the Free State and Eastern Cape.

Lesotho's Minister of Tourism, Environment & Culture Lebogang Ntsinyi said it was critical for the two countries to take advantage of nature based tourism.

"... especially (for) Lesotho, where most tourism products are underdeveloped, if we are to optimise the spin-offs from the 2010 World Cup Tournament," she said.

The Maloti Drakensberg Transfrontier Conservation Area links the Sehlabathebe National Park in Lesotho and Ukhahlamba Drakensberg Park World Heritage site in South Africa.

 Printable Version  | published Sep 04, 2007