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The Project Appraisal Document (PAD) did not have any
provision for the position of ecotourism specialist. The
World Bank during their Supervision Mission in April 2003
recommended that the PCU and the PCC should consider how
best technical and entrepreneurial experience could be
brought into the project to drive the ecotourism component.
After exploring all possible alternatives, the PCU and the
PCC found the recruitment of the ecotourism specialist to be
the most viable option. The ecotourism specialist joined the
project on 15 March 2004.
The only existing bilateral association between Lesotho and
South Africa is the Maloti Route, whose membership consists
of representatives of the private sector and public sector
from both countries. The forum’s primary objective is to
promote tourism within the Maloti range and parts of the
Free State and Eastern Cape provinces in South Africa. The
route covers substantial areas in both Lesotho and South
Africa. The Project Coordinator has made a presentation on
MDTP to the Maloti Route Forum in Clarens, South Africa in
August 2003 and the PCU is currently exploring ways in which
the proposed MDTP ecotourism forum could collaborate with
the Maloti Route.
Another potential ecotourism partner is the Mehloding
Community Trust, which is a private sector initiative in
Matatiele, South Africa. The trust has established hiking
and pony trekking trails within the communities. Camping
sites will also be developed. MDTP has already established
links with the initiative. The ultimate aim is to link up
Qacha’s Nek and Letśa-la-Letsie with the initiative.
The MDTP has also held numerous formal and informal
discussions regarding component 7 with individuals from both
the private sector and public sector, including officers
from the Department of Tourism within MTEC. The intention is
to ensure that the proposed ecotourism forum is inclusive.
The MDTP in collaboration with the Department of Tourism and
the Lesotho Tourism Development Cooperation held the
stakeholder workshop in February 2004 as an initial step
towards the establishment of an inclusive working group for
nature-based tourism. The key elements of the Terms of
Reference (ToR) for the proposed working group were
identified during the workshop and a follow-up stakeholder
meeting to finalise the ToR as well as membership will be
held sometime in May 2004.
Skillshare International has generously offered the services
a volunteer from the United Kingdom for a period of eight
(8) months to assist the project with a proposal for the
development of Mankhoaneng in the Leribe district into a
cultural heritage site and tourist destination. The area is
important because of its rich history and culture.
Furthermore, the volunteer will assist the ecotourism
specialist as an overall MDTP strategic advisor on tourism
developments within the MDTP area.
Component 7 also has aspects ecotourism infrastructure
development, including designs and construction of
buildings. The construction of major infrastructure is,
however, not provided for in the current stage of the
project. Nevertheless, the project will assist communities
with small developments such as hiking trails, trail huts in
pilot areas etc. Additionally, the project will assist with
the design of bigger structures such as visitor’s centres.
The forthcoming activities under this component include the
following:
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Review the Tourism Master Plan.
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Familiarisation trips to the project area with the
ecotourism specialist.
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Explore options for the design of a Visitor’s Centre in
Qacha’s Nek, Mokhotlong and Botha-Bothe with the PCC and
the World Bank.
-
Design an appropriate structure for visitor’s centres
based on the agreement reached with PCC and the World
Bank.
-
Visit to Sani explore possible developments with
Honourable Ministers for Tourism, Forestry,
Communications, Natural Resources and Foreign Affairs
and Works.
-
Identify pilot areas for various small infrastructure
development e.g craft centres, hiking trails, pony
trekking trails etc.
-
Support for training of 15 community trainers from the
Ministry of Tourism in hospitality and catering.
-
Acquire sites for visitor’s centres in Botha-Bothe and
Qacha’s Nek.
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