Cultural tourism advocate, storyteller, and lecturer Tiisetso Mopeli proudly represented Lesotho at the NextGen Tourism Business Expo 2025 in Botswana, where she championed the power of digital storytelling and community-led tourism.
Founder of Lesotho Trails & Tales, a platform that celebrates the country’s hidden gems, oral traditions, and authentic travel experiences, Mopeli has become one of the country’s most prominent voices in cultural tourism.
Her work focuses on reshaping how people experience the Mountain Kingdom by highlighting the stories behind the places.
At the expo, Mopeli spoke passionately about the need to view people, not just destinations, as the true assets of tourism.
“Tourists are drawn to stories that create emotional connections. It’s the experience, not only the location, that makes a journey memorable,” she said.
With a strong background in agricultural extension and rural development, Mopeli also lectures in the field and leads initiatives like the Extension Excellence Awards, which recognise outstanding contributions from frontline extension workers.
Her work bridges the gap between tradition and technology, using platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and eBooks to share scenic trails, cultural rituals, and the live experiences of Basotho communities.
At the expo, she showcased Lesotho’s tourism potential, emphasizing its majestic mountain landscapes, warm hospitality, and deep-rooted cultural heritage as assets that set the nation apart. She urged the tourism sector to invest in digital tools, youth creativity, and sustainable tourism models to ensure long-term growth.
“Lesotho has everything needed to thrive in the modern tourism space: authentic stories, untouched nature, and people with heart. We just need to start telling our own stories more effectively,” she noted.
Mopeli recommended that Lesotho adopts sustainable tourism practices, expand agri-tourism initiatives, and strengthen community-based tourism, allowing local people to directly benefit from visitor activities.
Inclusion and sustainability are key to maintaining Lesotho’s distinct identity while empowering its citizens economically, she stressed.
By embracing responsible tourism and modern storytelling, the country could position itself as a unique and ethical travel destination within Southern Africa.
For those eager to follow her journey, Mopeli continues to share her work and experiences through Lesotho Trails & Tales on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and soon, Twitter – where she hopes to keep inspiring others to rediscover Lesotho through the art of storytelling.
