UN Resident Coordinator calls for sustainable tourism as Sierra Leone builds back from COVID-19.

The UN Resident Coordinator in Sierra Leone, Mr Babatunde Ahonsi, in his keynote address to mark the World Tourism Day, acknowledged five priority areas identified in the UN Secretary-General's policy brief on COVID-19 and transforming tourism that may be adopted in the Sierra Leonean context to advance sustainable tourism in the short-to-medium term.

Remarking at the World Tourism Day event organized by the Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs at Brookfields Hotel on Monday, 27 September, Mr Ahonsi mentioned protection of tourism-related livelihoods, including those of women and other vulnerable groups; boosting competitiveness and investments of the tourism sector; advancing innovation and digitalisation; fostering of inclusive green growth, and enhanced, targeted partnerships that foster knowledge exchange and cooperation as lessons the country's tourism sector could draw from.

He said the gathering with the theme “Tourism & Inclusive Growth in Achieving the SDGs” could not have come at a better time. The tourism sector, according to the RC, has great potential in accelerating progress towards achieving SDGs. Mr Ahonsi recognised the value and potential of tourism to advance prosperity and drive inclusive, sustainable development, adding that the tourism sector cuts across almost every part of economies and societies.

He also noted that UN Sierra Leone, through the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework, aligned to the Medium-Term National Development Plan, 2019-2023 and anchored in the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, has committed its support towards the acceleration of economic development for the benefit of all, including those in the tourism sector.

Using UNDP as an example, the RC noted that over the years, support had been provided to youth groups through the National Tourist Board (NTB) to engage in beach cleaning, especially around Western Area. Recently, the Ministry of Tourism was also supported to build the capacity of 200 women living along the coastal areas in business management and start-up equipment to expand their businesses and improve their livelihoods.

"As we reopen our doors to tourists, we have an opportunity to reshape tourism to be more sustainable, environmentally friendly, and accessible to all," the RC observed.

He ended his address by calling on the Government, development partners and the private sector to collaborate to enhance sustainable tourism to boost the nation's economy.

Speaking at the event, Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs Ms Memunatu Pratt said that tourism has proven to be a driver of economic growth for many developing as well as developed countries globally.

"The sector is not just a leading source of employment particularly for women and youth; it also provides opportunities for peace, national cohesion and economic inclusion for the most vulnerable," she said.

The Minister catalogued a long list of her Ministry's development strides, including reviewing and upgrading the Tourism Development Act 1990 into an integrated National Tourism and Cultural Act.

"We must live up to our responsibility to ensure that we make collective contributions to promote the sector as well as share from the benefits tourism offers as a destination," the Minister noted.

Other speakers at the event included the Deputy Minister of Information and Communication, the Principal of Milton Margai University of Science and Technology, the deputy chairman, parliamentary oversight committee, and the Director of Tourism in the Ministry.

Three panel discussions focusing on the SDGs were held in the afternoon session of the programme.