Tourism for All: At a Commonwealth Event, Sierra Leone’s Minister of Tourism sets Sights on Inclusive and Sustainable Tourism as a Catalyst for National Development.

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Tourism for All: At a Commonwealth Event, Sierra Leone’s Minister of Tourism sets Sights on Inclusive and Sustainable Tourism as a Catalyst for National Development.

Today, (04/11/2024), at a Commonwealth Meeting on Sustainable and Regenerative Tourism, held in Marlborough House, London, Sierra Leone’s Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Mrs. Nabeela Tunis, outlined her country’s ambitious plans to make tourism a pillar of inclusive growth and environmental preservation.

The meeting began with a high-level session held with The Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC, Secretary-General of the Commonwealth. During this session the Secretary-General explained the rationale of commonwealth countries working together to secure shared goals and ensure collective success.

In her remarks at the meeting, Mrs. Tunis extended greetings from His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio, and went on to thank the Commonwealth Secretary-General for creating a viable platform to discuss sustainable tourism.

Mrs. Tunis delivered her remarks following an address by Hon Dr. Osmond Martinez, the Belize’s Minister of State for Foreign Trade.
Mrs. Tunis acknowledged the role of Dr. Abdulai O. Conteh, Sierra Leone’s long-serving former Chief Justice in Belize, for his contributions in helping to establish the link between Sierra Leone and Belize.

Mrs. Tunis then reflected on Sierra Leone’s 2018 decision to position tourism at the heart of its development strategy. “Tourism is a powerful tool for growth,” she said, “and our national plan recognizes this sector as a critical enabler for comprehensive and inclusive progress.”

Mrs. Tunis explained that Sierra Leone’s approach is rooted in the principle of “leaving no one behind,” with the Ministry implementing reforms to make tourism a collective responsibility. “We’ve worked to ensure every citizen is engaged in the development of this sector,” she noted, emphasizing that sustainable tourism is seen as a means to strengthen social cohesion, promote peace, and advance the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Mrs. Tunis recalled that in May this year, Sierra Leone launched its 10-Year National Tourism Strategic Plan, supported by the World Bank-funded Sierra Leone Economic Diversification Project (SLEDP). She highlighted the plan’s structured and costed roadmap, which spans the first five years, as a “commitment to building a tourism sector that is structured, sustainable, and impactful.”

Through the “Tourism for All” campaign, introduced in January, Sierra Leone has engaged communities across the country. “This campaign builds awareness, promotes partnerships, and instills a culture of protection, conservation, and preservation,” she explained. Each month, the campaign focuses on a different theme that includes Environmental Awareness for Ecotourism, Women in Tourism, and Wildlife Conservation and Community Partnerships.

On infrastructure, the minister stated that Sierra Leone is developing three key tourism sites through models that combine private sector oversight with community management. The phased approach is positioned to move towards “full community ownership”, ensuring tourism benefits flow directly to local people. Mrs. Tunis added that UNDP is assisting with site enhancements and improving connectivity to the mainland.

The Minister underscored efforts to make Sierra Leone accessible by exploring visa waivers, regional travel packages, and new flight routes. “We believe that accessibility is key to tapping into the creative economy, culture, and arts as powerful assets in our tourism portfolio,” she emphasised.

Mrs. Tunis explained that another highlight of Sierra Leone’s approach is the work towards integrating tourism into education, a move which she opined will help build a culture of conservation. “Our civic education drive encourages every citizen to embrace the preservation and regeneration of our heritage sites and cultural legacy,” she remarked.

Mrs. Tunis also celebrated the success of Sierra Leone’s recent Women in Tourism Congress, undertaken in collaboration with the UN World Tourism Organization. The event gathered women-led and women-owned businesses, showcasing the vital role women play in the sector. “Through this platform, we aim to push for stronger focus on women in tourism at the African Union,” Mrs. Tunis revealed, referring to an initiative which aligns with SDG 5 on gender equality.

Looking ahead, the Minister underlined that Sierra Leone will focus on ecotourism as a tool for environmental protection. She announced plans to expand efforts at the Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary, located in Western Area National Park. “We obtained the title deed for 6,000 hectares, which we’ll use as a model for public-private-community partnerships,” she explained, with a vision to place local communities at the forefront of forest and wildlife management.

A comprehensive wildlife policy is also in development, reinforcing Sierra Leone’s commitment to conservation and biodiversity protection. “Our goal is to harness the unique potential of our country’s rich wildlife,” she pointed out.

In her closing remarks, Mrs. Tunis called for Commonwealth-wide collaboration on sustainable tourism. “Tourism is and should be everybody’s business,” she said, inviting other countries to exchange knowledge and strategies. “We are committed to sustainable tourism practices that ensure inclusive growth and preserve our environment and cultural heritage for future generations.”

After the meeting at the Commonwealth, Mrs. Nabeela Tunis also attended the ITIC Global Tourism Investment Summit held at the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre in Westminster where the articulate Sierra Leone minister was interviewed on the current state and future prospects of international tourism.
During that interview Mrs. Nabeela Tunis highlighted the potentials of international tourism. She also spoke about the challenges, including the impacts of climate change, problems with air connectivity, extensive visa restrictions, and huge financial constraints, especially for low income countries. The interview comes on the eve of this year’s World Travel Market (WTM), the premier platform for global tourism promotion and development, which begins tomorrow, 5th November 2024, at London’s Excel Centre.

Abdulai Braima
Information Attaché
SLHC- London