In a momentous occasion for Sierra Leone, Vice President Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, representing President Brig. Rtd. Dr. Julius Maada Bio, alongside the World Bank Sierra Leone Economic Diversification Project (SLEDP), unveiled the nation’s inaugural National Strategic Tourism Plan. This milestone event, attended by government dignitaries, Parliamentarians, the Mayor, and international partners, underscores the monumental importance of this strategic move.
Crafted in collaboration with Journey and Keios Consultants, the National Strategic Tourism Plan signifies the government’s steadfast commitment to providing a clear vision, developing strategies, and charting a realistic roadmap for the tourism sector’s advancement over the next decade, bolstered by a meticulous five-year action plan.
Abdu Muwonge, the World Bank Country Manager, lauded the Ministry for spearheading the creation of a master plan to propel Sierra Leone’s tourism sector forward, emphasizing the crucial role of effectively showcasing the country’s attractions for marketing endeavors.
Finance Minister Sheku Fantamandi Bangura praised the strategy as a groundbreaking plan to foster sectoral growth, accentuating collaborative efforts between the Ministry of Finance and the Tourism Ministry in bolstering capacity, policy formulation, and site development.
Minister of Planning and Economic Development Kenyeh Ballay underscored the plan’s significance in job creation and pledged her Ministry’s unwavering support for its execution.
Director of Tourism Mohamed Jalloh delivered an exhaustive presentation of the plan, while Deputy Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs Kadijatu Grace Kamara conveyed a congratulatory message from UN Tourism Secretary General Zurab Pololikashvili, expressing robust backing for Sierra Leone’s tourism development endeavors.
Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs Nabeela Farida Tunis hailed the plan’s launch as a monumental stride in promoting tourism for socio-economic advancement. She extended gratitude to President Bio for prioritizing tourism and accentuated its pivotal role in realizing development objectives.
Acknowledging her staff and predecessor, Memunatu Pratt, and expressing appreciation to partners for their support, Minister Tunis called for unified commitment to unlocking Sierra Leone’s tourism potential.
A brief stage performance by staff, led by the Director of Culture Creativity and Innovation, Foday Jalloh, underscored the importance of conserving Sierra Leone’s natural and heritage sites.
Vice President Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, in his remarks, extended congratulations to the entire tourism sector for the launch of a roadmap for sustainable tourism development. He emphasized infrastructure investments and heightened international publicity for Sierra Leone as a tourist destination, advocating for soft loans for tourism establishments and reaffirming government backing for the plan’s implementation. Regarding reforms to boost tourist arrivals, he hinted at further eased entry restrictions and forthcoming effective and secure means of crossing the estuary.
Chaired by Permanent Secretary Edward Kwame Yankson, the event included statements by SL Tourism and Hospitality Association President John Shallop and a captivating display of Sierra Leone’s landscapes and culture by Spark Media Group.
The event reached its pinnacle as President Bio was bestowed the title of National Tourism Champion for his unwavering dedication to promoting tourism in Sierra Leone.
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MTCA Communications