{"id":14127,"date":"2024-11-09T22:32:58","date_gmt":"2024-11-09T22:32:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.slhc-uk.org\/?p=14127"},"modified":"2024-11-09T22:37:45","modified_gmt":"2024-11-09T22:37:45","slug":"from-vision-to-action-minister-nabeela-tunis-leads-sierra-leones-tourism-revival-with-a-compelling-presence-at-the-wtm-showcasing-opportunities-unveiling-potentials-and-building-strategic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.slhc-uk.org\/?p=14127","title":{"rendered":"From Vision to Action: Minister Nabeela Tunis Leads Sierra Leone\u2019s Tourism Revival with a Compelling Presence at the WTM, Showcasing Opportunities, Unveiling Potentials, and Building Strategic Partnerships"},"content":{"rendered":"

Once upon a time, in the early post-independence era, Sierra Leone\u2019s tourism stood proudly on the global stage. The Sierra Leone National Dance Troupe, representing the pinnacle of the nation\u2019s artistic heritage, showcased its vibrant culture worldwide, attracting a multitude of visitors to the country\u2019s pristine beauty. The troupe won \u201cBest Performance\u201d at the 1964 New York World\u2019s Fair and delivered equally memorable displays at major events like the 1965 Commonwealth Arts Festival in London and the 1966 Festival of Negro Arts in Dakar, becoming internationally synonymous with Sierra Leonean culture and achievement.<\/p>\n

After decades of setbacks\u2014from political instability to economic challenges, civil war, and the Ebola pandemic\u2014Sierra Leone\u2019s tourism sector is making a powerful comeback on the global stage. This resurgence is led by the Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, with Minister Nabeela Tunis at the helm.<\/p>\n

This positive trajectory in our national development drive has been on the uptake since the advent of H.E. President Julius Maada Bio into power- a leader who has prioritised education, including national cultural awareness, in the forefront of his policy agenda as part of the nation\u2019s comprehensive revival efforts.<\/p>\n

The fruits of President Bio\u2019s policy reawakening were again made visible this week at the London\u2019s ExCel Centre. This was yet another important platform for Sierra Leone to stand tall and be counted among the global fraternity of determined achievers.<\/p>\n

For three days at the ExCel Centre in London, Sierra Leone\u2019s delegation, led by Minister Tunis, showcased the nation\u2019s tourism potential amid dynamic cultural performances, high-profile meetings, and engaging seminars. The \u201cTourism For All Campaign 2024\u201d and initiatives like the \u201cWomen in Tourism\u201d agenda were in the spotlight. Minister Tunis reiterated the country\u2019s commitment to eco-tourism, conservation, and sustainable travel. She highlighted unique attractions such as the Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary, Tiwai Island, and upcoming eco-projects in the Gola Rainforest and Loma Mountains, framing Sierra Leone as an ideal destination for eco-conscious travellers.<\/p>\n

Minister Tunis, along with Permanent Secretary Mr. Kwame Yankson, National Tourist Board General Manager Mrs. Fatmata Carew, and Director Mohamed Jalloh, engaged in productive talks with global tourism leaders. Notably, they discussed strategic partnerships with Kgomotso Ramothea, CEO of the African Travel and Tourism Association (ATTA), to enhance domestic tourism and strengthen regional tourism ties. Sierra Leone\u2019s participation in ATTA, which began in early 2024, highlights the country\u2019s dedication to promoting African travel globally.<\/p>\n

The delegation\u2019s efforts also captured the attention of CBS News Travel Editor Peter Greenberg, known as \u201cThe Travel Detective\u201d for his insightful reporting on global destinations. Greenberg, who additionally serves as the host of \u201cEye on Travel\u201d, expressed strong interest in Sierra Leone\u2019s journey to establish itself as a prominent player in the tourism industry. Further discussions with Lily Sawyer and Lauren Kania of Africa Outlook, as well as Ola Wright, CEO of the West African Tourism Organization (WATO), highlighted Sierra Leone\u2019s commitment to expanding its tourism profile through strategic partnerships.<\/p>\n

Minister Tunis also participated in a summit on \u201cAI for Good in Tourism,\u201d hosted by WTM in association with the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC). She joined global leaders to discuss the potential of Artificial Intelligence in promoting sustainable tourism.<\/p>\n

By actively participating in high level summits with cutting-edge topics, and engaging with key players in relevant fields, Sierra Leone is setting a path for itself as a forward-thinking player in global tourism.<\/p>\n

Reflecting on WTM\u2019s impact, Permanent Secretary Mr. Kwame Yankson was brimming with optimism: \u201cSierra Leone is a growing destination, and we are determined to leverage all our knowledge and experiences to showcase the natural beauty and vast potential of the country, even as we continue to learn from so many others at events like this.\u201d
\nThat optimism has been echoed by Wanderlust, the U.K.\u2019s longest-running travel magazine, which shortlisted Sierra Leone in its 2024 Awards for \u201cBest Emerging Destinations.\u201d<\/p>\n

With support from the Sierra Leone High Commission, led by High Commissioner H.E. Dr. Morie Komba Manyeh and Deputy High Commissioner Mrs. Yvonne King Odigboh, the delegation\u2019s efforts demonstrated a deep commitment in reviving and elevating the country\u2019s tourism profile way beyond its glorious 1960s benchmark.<\/p>\n

As the WTM London concludes this year\u2019s activities, the Sierra Leone tourism team will be returning home with stronger connections, renewed hope, bigger dreams, valuable insights, greater confidence, and a clearer path forward.
\nWith eyes on both domestic tourism, regional collaboration and a push for global partnerships, Sierra Leone is taking very meaningful steps towards a thriving tourism industry that honours its authentic beauty, celebrates its rich culture, and provides lasting benefits for its communities.<\/p>\n

Certainly the stage has been set in this sector for meaningful growth. The goal would be for more Sierra Leoneans to take a more pragmatic look at this multi-trillion dollar industry, as a viable pathway to personal and community development, because as Minister Nabeela Tunis keeps chanting: \u201cTourism Biznez, Nar Allman Biznes!\u201d We must loudly reecho her chants in more functional ways because it is a song for the development and betterment of Sierra Leone!<\/p>\n

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Once upon a time, in the early post-independence era, Sierra Leone\u2019s tourism stood proudly on the global stage. The Sierra Leone National Dance Troupe, representing the pinnacle of the nation\u2019s artistic heritage, showcased its vibrant culture worldwide, attracting a multitude of visitors to the country\u2019s pristine beauty. The troupe won \u201cBest Performance\u201d at the 1964…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":14135,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-14127","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.slhc-uk.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14127","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.slhc-uk.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.slhc-uk.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.slhc-uk.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.slhc-uk.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=14127"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/blog.slhc-uk.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14127\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":14137,"href":"https:\/\/blog.slhc-uk.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14127\/revisions\/14137"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.slhc-uk.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/14135"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.slhc-uk.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=14127"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.slhc-uk.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=14127"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.slhc-uk.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=14127"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}