Lesotho All Mountain Weekend

[Thorn199]

... and how much of that R3500 is going to benefit Lesotho?

 

Sorry, but coming from Lesotho myself, this irritates me a lot, where SA companies (4x4, Cycling, Motorbike, Adventure etc) exploit Lesotho as a destination, but all the revenue and profits stay in SA - except for the few rands that go to accommodation providers.

 

At least contribute to Lesotho cycling if you are going to run tours in Lesotho.

 

Just my 5c...

[NicoBoshoff]

... and how much of that R3500 is going to benefit Lesotho?

 

Sorry, but coming from Lesotho myself, this irritates me a lot, where SA companies (4x4, Cycling, Motorbike, Adventure etc) exploit Lesotho as a destination, but all the revenue and profits stay in SA - except for the few rands that go to accommodation providers.

 

At least contribute to Lesotho cycling if you are going to run tours in Lesotho.

 

Just my 5c...

 

Maybe a Lesotho company can do that, no?

[nigelhicks]

... and how much of that R3500 is going to benefit Lesotho?

 

Sorry, but coming from Lesotho myself, this irritates me a lot, where SA companies (4x4, Cycling, Motorbike, Adventure etc) exploit Lesotho as a destination, but all the revenue and profits stay in SA - except for the few rands that go to accommodation providers.

 

At least contribute to Lesotho cycling if you are going to run tours in Lesotho.

 

Just my 5c...

 

Yes sure I hear you ... but WOW ... we havent even got this going yet and already there are okes complaining ...

 

Not chooning you dude - but remember as well that we are not talking SANI2C or JHB2C numbers here - we talking about a couple of riders going away for a weekend ... this is no different to you going to France for a holiday ... what do you give France in revenue?? Other than accommodation, and local trade with regards to food etc ... nothing ... you dont go and pay towards a charity ... so what is the difference??

 

If you say this about tour groups then what about travel agents? shouldnt they do this too with their tour packages that they put together around the world?

 

i DO NOT mean to start a fight ... just stating another view point ...

[NicoBoshoff]

#entitlement

 

Sorry, but I will pick a fight. This is a ridiculous attitude. People are taking the initiative and risk in this endeavor and now, what? They must just give a share to the host country? Why? Why isn't something like this already up and running by a local?

 

If money is spent in Lesotho, great. I'm sure this will in any event be the case due to the convenience and logistics involved. But it's rubbish to state that a contribution should be made in principle because it's Lesotho's mountains that is the product being exploited for gain.

 

It's not a deminishing product. It's an attraction. It's a reason for people to go to Lesotho. If people in Lesotho can't exploit that gap in the market, tough cookies.

 

It's this mentality that has people running around in horror screaming "Somebody, do something!!!"

 

Nige, Detour, please continue as planned.

[nigelhicks]

[nigelhicks]

i have a big one loading at the moment but its at 30% and still has 170minutes remaining - so it will come

[Guest Omega Man]

@Nico

 

I have to agree with you 100% on this one.

 

Is the fact that Detour and Nigel are planning on using local accommodation and refueling vehicles in Lesotho not enough? The people on the trip are coming with money and will most likely buy bits & pieces in Lesotho. Is that not enough?

[Nicko]

... and how much of that R3500 is going to benefit Lesotho?

 

Sorry, but coming from Lesotho myself, this irritates me a lot, where SA companies (4x4, Cycling, Motorbike, Adventure etc) exploit Lesotho as a destination, but all the revenue and profits stay in SA - except for the few rands that go to accommodation providers.

 

At least contribute to Lesotho cycling if you are going to run tours in Lesotho.

 

Just my 5c...

 

Wow... you clearly have no idea how many quarts we bought!!! We were pumping money into that place...

 

Jokes aside, don't post such stupid comments in future. If Rohan didn't run this tour to Lesotho, the accomodation providers and local shabeens wouldn't have seen any of our money. So don't come here acting like we're stealing from Lesotho. Lesotho cycling was in no way involved in this event by any means, not from a planning or safety aspect, nor did they build the trails (or even know about the trails we rode).

[Nicko]

A few screengrabs from my footage

 

[Nicko]

And a few more

 

[nigelhicks]

So awesome! Wish i could go back this weekend too

[Nofearnofun]

... and how much of that R3500 is going to benefit Lesotho?

 

Sorry, but coming from Lesotho myself, this irritates me a lot, where SA companies (4x4, Cycling, Motorbike, Adventure etc) exploit Lesotho as a destination, but all the revenue and profits stay in SA - except for the few rands that go to accommodation providers.

 

At least contribute to Lesotho cycling if you are going to run tours in Lesotho.

 

Just my 5c...

 

This is the exact mentality that people need to rid themselves of not only in Lesotho, South Africa, Africa but the whole world!

 

"Give a man your hand and he will take your whole arm"!

 

As mentioned already the guys on this tour are paying for accomodation, food and drink and other bits and pieces they may buy which stimulates the economy. Take what you can rightfully earn and be content dont try and build Nkandla!

[Thorn199]

I understand all your points of view, and I am not disregarding the positive impact that well run tours have on the country.

 

But there's no real difference in what Detour are proposing to do and a Lesotho retailer coming in to SA, opening up a general dealer, importing labour and product from Lesotho and then all the revenue and profits head back to Lesotho without paying SA taxes. As we know, this is not only illegal in South Africa, it is certainly frowned upon by South Africans.

 

SAns need to recognise that Lesotho is its own independant state with its own rules and regulations.

 

Just because it is Lesotho and a poorly developed 3rd world country, does not give every SA company the right to operate there with impunity. There is a right way and wrong way of operating. Register and operate as a Lesotho company, or partner with an organisation already operating in Lesotho.

 

Again... my frustration is not pointed at Detour only, but at other tour companies who operate with impunity and really do exploit and actually damage Lesotho in the process of their tours.

[NicoBoshoff]

I understand all your points of view, and I am not disregarding the positive impact that well run tours have on the country.

 

But there's no real difference in what Detour are proposing to do and a Lesotho retailer coming in to SA, opening up a general dealer, importing labour and product from Lesotho and then all the revenue and profits head back to Lesotho without paying SA taxes. As we know, this is not only illegal in South Africa, it is certainly frowned upon by South Africans.

 

SAns need to recognise that Lesotho is its own independant state with its own rules and regulations.

 

Just because it is Lesotho and a poorly developed 3rd world country, does not give every SA company the right to operate there with impunity. There is a right way and wrong way of operating. Register and operate as a Lesotho company, or partner with an organisation already operating in Lesotho.

 

Again... my frustration is not pointed at Detour only, but at other tour companies who operate with impunity and really do exploit and actually damage Lesotho in the process of their tours.

 

What if Lesotho labour is not skilled or affordable enough for the jobs available? Or there is no demand for their labour because the operator is already staffed with the right people? Must he fire his staff and appoint the less desirable Lesotho labour? Who is going to make up for the costs when his business suffers because of the reduced productivity, Lesotho's government? Nope.

 

Governments and big-state disciples are always keen to stand in line when the profits get made, but when risks have to be taken and costs invested then the dirty capitalists must bear it. Nice arrangement.

 

Sorry, but there is no rational reason why a foreign operator should not go in, do its business and leave with all its profits and foreign employees.

 

And frankly if it is required by Lesotho law that you may not conduct business there and / or have to use local labour and / or have local shareholding well then I'm not surprised Lesotho is such a shining beacon of development and wealth.

 

But hey, instead of encouraging travel to Lesotho, which obviously has a positive result for the local economy, let's make it as difficult as possible to operate here and rather chase the money away.

 

People don't take kindly to being treated like slaves. Doing something for someone else without return or volition i.e. simply because they hold force over you, is slavery. Simple.

[nigelhicks]

BOOM - one of the runs (this is actually only about 1/3 of the total run) - but it would have been a 16minute video if i had done it all

 

[Shebeen]

I can see this getting offtrack already...middle ground is where it needs to be.

Sure SA has abused Lesotho, we even invaded them not so long ago. But it does work both ways and the mountain kingdom needs us.

 

As far as I can see this is still very exploratory, if it turns into something big then Rohan will have to deal with the associated negotiations that other providers of formal tours/races have done. Failure to do that and the idea/concept will never expland.

 

In the meantime there should definitely be an attitude of appreciation, don't just rock up and ride and act if you own the place. i'm thinking brandy and coke brigade on mozambique beaches here as an extreme example.