Abubakarr Bah, external contributor
Sierra Leone’s Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Nabeela F. Tunis has held successful bilateral meetings with some of her counterparts, as well as key officials of the tourism sector in Saudi Arabia.
The meetings were held to enhance connectivity and unlock Sierra Leone’s potentials in tourism as Tourism leaders converge in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia to celebrate World Tourism Day with the theme: ‘Tourism and Green Investment’.
Mrs. Tunis said the United Nations World Tourism Organisation’s (UNWTO) two-day Conference in Riyadh was a great opportunity for her to build bridges, foster collaborations, explore opportunities and promote the country’s tourism sector for investment.
“Since I arrived in Riyadh, I have been holding series of strategic bilateral meetings with my counterparts in the tourism sector in order to strengthen partnerships and unlock Sierra Leone’s tourism potential in the Middle East as well as the global stage.
During the tourism event in Riyadh, “we will discuss the challenges and opportunities surrounding investment in tourism,” Mrs. Tunis told me in an interview.
At the opening ceremony on Wednesday, UNWTO Secretary General, Zurab Pololikashvili said: “This year’s celebration of the World Tourism Day is regarded as the most attended by Tourism Leaders after the Covid-19 pandemic”.
At the two-day event, Tourism Leaders are identifying the sector’s ability to drive growth while also highlighting the vital need for investments to ensure such growth is inclusive and sustained.
The wider aim of the event is to foster global collaborations, explore opportunities, strengthen the resilience of the tourism sector, and work towards an investment-led and sustainably focused future for the industry.
Delegates have the opportunity to explore innovative approaches to tourism, consider success stories and best practices that integrate tourism with green investment, and learn how the sector can be promoted as a means of bridging cultures.
More than 500 government officials and industry leaders from 120 countries are attending the UNWTO conference in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
