Sierra Leone tourism achieves another level
There is no doubt that tourism like all other sectors makes a significant impact to a country’s socio-economic growth. This is why Sierra Leone’s tourism industry is accelerating efforts to ensure that the country remains a booming tourist destination, thanks to the dynamic leadership of Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma and his able lieutenants who have taken upon themselves to overhaul the tourism sector. It is apparent that the country’s enormous potential has continued to attract foreign direct investors and small scale tourism. This was why a Lonely Planet guidebook ranked Sierra Leone as one of the top 10 destinations in the world. (Photo: Chairman of the National Tourist Board in Sierra Leone, Mr. Ahmed Serray Bundu Wurie at the Trade Fair)
Those efforts are not limited only to activities organised within the country, but also extend further to participate in International Trade Fairs across the globe. Recent among them was the world’s leading travel trade show (ITB) in Berlin Germany – an excellent platform where business partners, tour operators, and tourism professionals meet to exchange business ideas and market their respective countries.
Officials from the ministry of tourism and the private sector in Sierra Leone were among the 113,000 trade visitors in this year’s fair in Berlin. The Chairman of the National Tourist Board in Sierra Leone, Mr. Ahmed Serray Bundu Wurie, said the exercise provided a unique opportunity for them to entice trade investors and market Sierra Leone as an attractive destination for all.
Being a vital forum for business opportunities, Mr. Wurie said such occasion has enabled them to replicate good ideas and styles from other countries. He has opted to put the ideas acquired during the fair in Berlin into practice, thus modifying inappropriate policies designed to market Sierra Leone’s raw beauty. He believes that their participation has taken Sierra Leone to another level through which potential partners have already manifested their interest to invest in the country.
In an effort to sustain that interest, the tourism officials made available brochures, commercial literature, artifacts and DVD’s depicting the country’s beautiful landscape to thousands of visitors during the trade fair. Mr. Wurie expressed delight that the tourism sector is part of the Agenda for Prosperity as according to him, the political will is needed in order to achieve the stated goals and objectives in that sector.
Tourism, Marketing Manager
“Tourism will be one of the biggest sectors that will bring maximum benefit for the socio-economic development of the country,” he said stressing further that adequate attention should be given to the industry while urging government to continue providing the enabling environment to do business in the country.
Reacting to what many described as a complete destruction of natural beaches and ecosystems along with severe impacts to coastal protection and tourism due to the ongoing sand mining in Sierra Leone, Mr. Wurie said government has imposed a ban on such anomaly. He singled out Hamilton and other areas around the Peninsular, which were invaded by beach sand miners. However, the swift intervention of government has saved the ugly situation. He further disclosed that effective monitoring process is currently underway to bring such unfortunate activities to a halt.
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