Accomplishments Of Outgoing Tourism Minister And Cultural Affairs 2019-2022

KEY ACTIVITIES UNDERTAKEN AND ACHIEVED BY THE MINISTER OF TOURISM AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS SINCE 2019-2022

1. IMPROVED THE INTERNATIONAL IMAGE OF SIERRA LEONE AND DIVERSIFY MARKETING OF THE COUNTRY

In improving the image of Sierra Leone marketing and promotion, we have actively participated in key targeted international market such as; United Kingdom, France, Germany, Spain, Scandinavia, USA, Russia and West African Sub-Regions with different activities including;

• Trade Fairs And Exhibitions,
• Promotion In Internationally Renowned Tv Channels,
• Road Shows
• Marketing Representatives
• International Networking
• Promotional Materials
• Domestic Tourism
• We also facilitated the fast-tracked the introduction of Visa on Arrival ratified by government to help the tourism industry.
• Produced Tourism Promotional Materials.
  • Publication of Traveltainment Magazine ( 1^st Issue published, 2^nd Issue in progress)
  • Tourism Inflight Magazine
  • Tourism Information Register.
• Attained International Recognition with Active Participation Globally.

1. Settled dues and attained full-fledged updated Membership with UNWTO with active participation at global stage.

• Attracted Host of International Tourists.
• Hosted 700 tourist with 227 Vehicles  in Budapest Bamako-Freetown Rally
• 300 Danes for research and related tourism activities
• Providing home and naturalization to host of African Americans tracing their DNA back to Sierra Leone.
• Attracted Idris Elba a renown international activist; actor, writer, artist, model, etc. in root tourism with huge investment interest at Bonthe.  
• Organized Workshop Training on Marketing & Rebranding for:
• Embassies and Diplomatic Missions
• Recently Appointed Press Attaché
• IMPROVE THE POLICY AND LEGAL FRAMEWORK.
• The following Policy Documents are in the Process of Completion Supported by the Government of Sierra Leone, World Bank and Enhanced Integrated Framework Project.
• Review of Tourism Development Act-1990
• Tourism Governance and Financial Management strategy – Completed
• Tourism Marketing and Branding Strategy – Completed.
• E-Tourism Finance
• Review/upgrade of National Tourism Policy  and Ecotourism Development Plan
• Tourism Master Plan.
• Tourism Wildlife Policy
• National Heritage Bill – Draft currently at the Law Officers’ Department.
• National Entertainment Policy- Draft developed.

• PROMOTE COMPETITION IN THE SECTOR TO REDUCE COSTS AND IMPROVE VALUE FOR MONEY
• Collaborated with NRA to Reduced GST Charges on travelling cost and across tourism value chain.
• Collaborated with Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration Departments on Introducing Visa on Arrival Regulation.
• Collaboration with EPA & NPAA to Review Environmental Social Health Impact Assessment Charges (ESHIA) for tourism and  hospitality industry operators and separating them from mining and Agricultural  industry  activities
• Collaboration with Freetown City Council on the reduction of tourism establishment’s property tax (City Rate).
• Worked with Statistic Sierra Leone to conduct the National Tourism Census for a comprehensive report and list of all tourism establishments in the country
• Report launched.

Implementation ongoing.

• REHABILITATE AND DEVELOP HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL SITES THROUGH A HOLISTIC REHABILITA­TION PLAN
• Heritage and engineering assessments conducted on few and action plans laid for comprehensive restoration, protection and conservation of these sites.
• Restored the historic Bonthe Clock Tower,
• Bunce Island Slave Fort conservation
• Government has committed to provide more funds to enhance the tourism infrastructure at Bunce Island.
• Restoration of Bai Bureh’s Grave
• Government has given clearance for development funds towards the comprehensive conservation of the Hero’s Graves including Madam Yoko, Sengbeh Pieh’s, Kai Londo etc.
• Rehabilitation of other Historic & Cultural Sites
• The Rehabilitations of old Fourah Bay College in progress
• Proclamation of St. Charles and Maroon Church as National Monuments,
• Rehabilitation of Old Kings Yard Gate, Old Government Warf Step, the National Museum and Railway Museum in progress.
• Established School heritage clubs in school at regional level.

TOURISM SITE DEVELOPMENT:

• World Bank Support: The Sierra Leone Economic Diversification Project,

.

• The project development; Leicester Peak, Tacugama Sanctuary, Bureh Beach, River No. 2, and Bonthe Island.
• Development will commence this year on three sites; Leicester Peak, Tacugama Sanctuary and River No. 2.

• Under the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF) Project
• The Project is currently developing three Sites (Wara Wara Mountain, Tiwai Island and Banana Island)
• Construction of Roads Leading to Major Touristic Sites
• The designed for the construction/rehabilitation of access roads leading to cultural/historical sites list submitted list to SLRA by the MTCA/NTB has been done.

• CAPACITY BUILDING AND HUMAN RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT PLAN, UPGRADE THE EXISTING SCHOOL FOR HOTEL MANAGEMENT, AND COLLABORATE WITH INTER­NATIONAL HOSPITALITY INSTITUTIONS

• Curriculum Development for Tourism, Travel and Hospitality Industry has been completed.
• The construction of 22 training Bedrooms including kitchens at MMTU – Brookfields Campus is in Progress.
• Engaged the Ministry of Technical and Higher Education, the University of Sierra Leone (USL), Njala University and UNIMAK at Regional level for the introduction of Degree Program in Tourism, Hospitality and Management.
• MRC Hosting continuous radio and TV talk show called Salone Country Pot at AYV is ongoing.

• PROMOTE ECO-TOURISM TO ENSURE THE PROTEC­TION OF THE COUNTRY’S RICH BIODIVERSITY
• The Ministry has worked with the EPA, NPAA, MoLH, MoE, FCC to declare places as Tourism Development Areas such as:
• The Mortomeh Mud Slide Area, the Western Area Peninsula,
• Plans to beautify and provide facilities for these protected areas are on course.
• Partnered with renowned environmentalist Dr. Jane Goodal to declare Chimpanzee as national animal of Sierra Leone.
• Organized Tourism Local Governance Conference to Engage Local Authorities to Promote Eco-Tourism in the country.
• Organized tourism promotion workshop of domestic tourism for Civil Society Organizations, SLAJ and Media Houses.
• We organized the first ever National Tourism Governance Conference for Parliament, with the theme: “The role of Parliament in the development of Tourism and Cultural Sector”

• SUPPORT LOCAL ENTREPRENEURS TO PROMOTE TOURISM-BASED ACTIVITIES THAT LINK WITH THE RURAL ECONOMY, HARVEST SEASONS, WILDLIFE, FARMING PRACTICES, ART, AND CULTURE
• We have organized Training on Tourism Entrepreneurship and Resilience to Climate Change and alternative livelihood for Women in Coastal Risk Areas in the following Communities
• Sulima,
• Kent
• Bureh
• River No. 2
• Banana Island
• Kabala
• Bonthe island & Yargoi
• Mattru Jong & Tobanda
• Pujehun
• Kamakwie
• Tambaka (Outamba Kilimi)
• Cline Town Community
• Aberdeen/Lumley Beach Community
• The Ministry and its agencies commemorated UN World Tourism Day by holding series of regional dialogues and the grand celebration in Freetown.
• Also organized an Agro Tourism festival with the Ministry of Agriculture in Bonthe and Koinadugu districts in 2019.

• ESTABLISH PUBLIC–PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS AND PROMOTE PRIVATE SECTOR INVOLVEMENT
• The Ministry is partnering with local private and international entities for the conservation of the nation’s heritage assets for tourism investments.
• Developed MoU with AYV and Africell to promote tourism.

• PROMOTE ADVENTURE TOURS SUCH AS SAFARIS, JUNGLE TOURS, MOUNTAIN TREKKING, ETC.
• A study tour to Kenya by the Ministry and other relevant sectors to see the possibility of promoting wildlife tourism has been done
• Assessments of the Sierra Leone wildlife resources by Kenyan experts has been done and the report with its recommendation is available,
• The signing of MoU on tourism trade agreement has been done by H.E. the President and the Minister has been done.