Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Nabeela Farida Tunis has unveilled ‘Tourism for All’ Initiative, while expressing the desire of the investors to invest in hostels and promote women in tourism through South-South cooperation.
Madam Tunis stated that the discussions with the investors were promising, as job creation is a key priority for President Dr Julius Maada Bio. One of the government’s big five game changers is to create 500,000 jobs, and the Ministry of Tourism has identified the creative industry as a specific sector with great potential for job creation.
Madam Tunis emphasised that every Sierra Leonean has a unique talent that, if unlocked, can contribute to the productive growth of the industry.
The Ministry is also focusing on investment in the hospitality industry. They believe that they have the potential to support a significant percentage of the 500,000 jobs the government aims to create. The Ministry is prepared to work with private investors to seize this opportunity and expects to see more partnerships in the future.
Madam Tunis highlighted that the Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs is currently implementing a year-long campaign called “Tourism for All.” The campaign aims to raise awareness about the potential of tourism to contribute to national development.
The Ministry is collaborating with various private sector entities to promote tourism and ensure that everyone benefits economically from its growth.
The campaign is structured around different themes for each month. January focuses on exploring and discovering the potential of tourism, while February emphasizes travel and hospitality.
March highlights creativity and innovation, and April is dedicated to the gateway to freedom. May celebrates cultural heritage, followed by monuments and relics in June. July focuses on environmental awareness for conservation, and August emphasizes the value and benefits of tourism for individuals, businesses, and the government.
September highlights the role of women in tourism, and October focuses on wildlife. The campaign culminates in December with festivities to celebrate the achievements of the Ministry throughout the year.
During this time, the Ministry will also launch their homecoming initiative, starting in April 2025. Madam Tunis stressed the importance of volunteerism and announced that every staff member of the Ministry will dedicate 10 hours per month to engage with the public and share information about the Ministry’s work and the government’s plans to enhance productivity in the tourism sector.
Madam Nabeela Farida Tunis concluded by urging all Sierra Leoneans to bring forth their positive energy and contribute to the growth of the tourism industry. She emphasized that tourism is a collective effort and expressed her hope for the cooperation of every citizen.
