Ministry of Tourism & Cultural Affairs Sierra Leone

07/09/2023

Greetings esteemed family,

We are pleased to inform you all that the next Sierra Leone root tourism and diaspora citizenship event will be held from November 20-December 6, 2023

We are working on the itinerary and will keep you posted on this.

We are very sorry for the delay in announcing the dates. This was due to the political transition.

Many thanks and please let us know if you have further queries.

Mohamed Faray Kargbo
Education and Outreach Manager
Monuments and Relics Commission

02/08/2023

WELCOMING THE NEW MINISTER AND HER DEPUTY TO THE MINISTRY OF TOURISM AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS.

01/08/2023

01/08/2023

The Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs,The National Tourist Board,The Monument &Relics Commission and The Tourism &Hospitality Sector.

Heartily Congratulates and Welcome
The Hon. Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs
Mrs. NABEELA FARIDA TUNIS and

The Deputy Minister,
Mrs. KADIATU A.G. KAMARA

LEONE EXPLORE FREEDOM

08/03/2023

Sierra Leone participates in ITB Berlin 2023

Sierra Leone's Tourism and Cultural Affairs Minister is leading a delegation from the tourism sector to participate in the world's largest tourism trade fair, International Tourismus Bourse ITB Berlin, Germany.

Dr Memunatu Pratt is optimistic that these strides are crucial to uplifting tourism development and to improve inbound tourism.

The event is taking place from the 7th - 9th March, 2023 at the prestigious City Cube, Messe Berlin.

"We cannot rest on our oars when others are taking advantage of the post-pandemic opportunities to revamp tourism." remarked the Tourism Minister.

Funded by the World Bank through the Sierra Leone Economic Diversification Programme, the country's representation in this year's ITB Berlin is unique owing to the strategic location of the stand, the features on the stand and the networking opportunities available.

On Tuesday March 7, 2023 the Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs together with other delegates attended a Ministerial round-table on the topic: Mastering transformation on a Global Stage.

During that session, Bahrain, Croatia, Egypt and Georgia shared their experiences on how they are transforming their tourism in the face of a global crisis.

The trade fair continues today Wednesday March 8, 2023.

23/11/2022

UNESCO
The Regional launch of the
UNESCO'S AFRICA FILM INDUSTRY: TRENDS, CHALLENGES, AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR GROWTH REPORT.

09/11/2022

*President Bio Welcomes Budapest Rally Participants to Sierra Leone, Encourages more Tourists to Visit Sierra Leone*

*8th November, 2022. Gigibonta Car Park, Lumley Beach*-The President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Dr. Julius Maada Bio has welcomed the 600 participants of the 2022 Budapest-Bamako Freetown Rally, says the rally was a true test of resilience and human limits, mental strength and the unification of people. The finish line ceremony was held at Lumley beach and attracted top government officials, the diplomatic community and head of MDA’s.

The rally is the world’s largest amateur vehicular rally and Africa’s biggest humanitarian event. Over 500 participants from over 40 countries with 242 vehicles and motorbikes participated in the 2022 Budapest-Bamako Freetown finish line rally. The rally took 19 days and 9000 kilometres to get to Sierra Leone, journeying through Hungary, Austria, Slovenia, Italy, France, Spain, Morocco, West Sahara, Mauritania, Senegal Mali, Guinea and into Sierra Leone via Gbalamuya and Madina Oula entry points respectively. They spend their first night in Sierra Leone at Magbando Village in Masiaka where they donated educational materials to Emil Elementary School before proceeding to Bureh beach where a beach fiesta was held. The participants drove through Bureh beach into the city with a state es**rt and were warmly welcomed by jubilant Sierra Leoneans as they hit the finish line at Lumbley beach.

The Director of Tourism, Mohamed Jalloh said they were gathered to welcome their good friends and adventurists whom they admired for their courage to go out of their comfort zones to traverse countries in two continents covering more than 9000 kilometres and ending the amazing journey in Freetown, saying that the rally provided an opportunity to present the true picture of Africans to Europeans who would have found it difficult to visit the continent on their own.

The Coordinator of the Budapest-Bamako Freetown Rally, Andrew Szabo told President Bio that they waited two and half years to embark on this journey and have enjoy the warm welcome for which they were grateful. He thanked the Minister and the Director of Tourism for the welcome saying that it was the best they have had in the 17 years history of the rally. He congratulated the participants for making it to the finish line. He added that the beauty of Sierra Leone should be appreciated, while emphasizing that the hospitality of the people of Sierra Leone and its environment are precious and should be protected.

The Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Dr. Memunatu Pratt remarked that the occasion was a historic one for the sector playing host for the second time to over 500 participants for the Budapest-Bamako Freetown rally finish line. She noted that this kind of celebration aimed at telling the Sierra Leone story to the rest of the world that the destination has a new face that was ready for business. She said the Budapest-Bamako Freetown Challenge has proven that Sierra Leone is a hospitable country as participants were overwhelmed by the reception they received from the entry points to the finish line. She appreciated the inter-MDA’s collaboration in making the event a success. She thanked the rally Coordinator, Andrew Szabo and Visit Sierra Leone for pulling this through and commended President Bio for his willingness and unwavering support in changing the tourism narrative.

In his keynote address, the President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Dr. Julius Maada Bio welcomed the participants to Sierra Leone saying that their presence in the country for the second time in two years was a testimony to the fact that Sierra Leone has graduated from a country with a glooming picture to one that is now recognised for positive reforms at the international level. He urged the participants to tell more people to join the rally and come to Sierra Leone. He thanked the organizers for choosing to come to Freetown, Visit Sierra Leone for establishing and maintaining contact with the organisers of the rally and the Ministry for making sure that the tourism sector is promoted around the world.

Representative of the World Bank Country Manager, government Ministers, the private sector and the Sierra Leone Hotel Association were all part of the discourse.

The Budapest-Bamako Freetown Challenge aimed at actualizing President Bio’s vision of making Sierra Leone an attractive tourist destination, create a platform for cultural exchange, facilitate foreign direct investment and provide jobs for the youth, women and other vulnerable groups.

*Information Unit*
*MTCA*
*+23276688755*
*Email:[email protected]*

09/11/2022

*Sierra Leone attains emerging eco-tourism destination status as Wanderlust travel magazine hang heads with NTB's Fatmata Carew and Tourism Reps.*

_As Budapest ends WTM climaxed with day three business engagement and MICE._

Pushing Sierra Leone's government agenda in the New Direction Manifesto placed premium on Tourism Development and international tourism branding and profiling that is core in ensuring, the country reaches the tourist generating regions.

*8th November, 2022 London Excel.* Sierra Leone in this year's World Trade Market has been very strategic and steadfast in tapping into every opportunity that will bring continous boom for the tourism sector and other related sectors respective.

As Sierra Leone tourism delegation takes advantage with one on one engagement with 2500 exhibitors, and 100 countries in pushing Sierra Leone as an emerging Eco-Tourism destination in West Africa and Africa with the country's tourism assets.

Explore Freedom is the new catch phrase with the newly launched iconic logo capturing the minds and attentions of trade visitors and the general trade visitors in this year's WTM 2022.

The General Manager -NTB Mrs. Fatmata Mida Carew has been very proactive with her Marketing Manager Ms. Lucinda M. Kargbo in all the B2B meetings with key stakeholders, from countries around the world and leading tourism institutions.

It is sacrosanct In her presentation she articulates the mandate of positioning Sierra Leone as the place tourist can have the Freedom to Explore our attractions using the Unique Selling Position (USP) especially with eco-tourism and Cultural products.

Sierra Leone’s well designed and decorated stand in the African and Middle East section brings Sierra Leone to the limelight, as we share place value with: South Africa, Maldives, Egypt, Morocco, Seychelles, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Ghana, Senegal, The Gambia and several others.

Wanderlust Travel Magazine to commence featuring Sierra Leone as emerging Eco-tourism destination. Wanderlust is the leading travel magazine in UK and Europe. It is perfect for digging deep into destinations and Sierra Leone will soon be featuredin this amazing wide coverage travel magazine.

Wanderlust TM are known to have some fantastic long articles giving detailed insights into the places, the people blend with cultural tastes of these places that profile country.

The magazine will place strong focus on the country's authentic beauty of places; the exotic landscape, wildlife, people, Culture and heritage respectively.

Sierra Leone's continuous presence and appearance in the biggest world's trade event, is adding destination value and visitors trust and confidence in our country Sierra Leone.

Establishing the background of Sierra Leone's successes from 2019, when the country's tourist arrival hitted the ceiling of 124,000 tourist arrivals, flanged with several pe*******on into new tourist generating markets then Corona emerged, which placed a challenge to the tourism sector and other facets.

The emergence of Covid19 posed stagnation on hotel occupancy, tour operating, ground handling, restaurateurs, casinos and disposing several households of daily survival from these employments chains.

The good news is, the country's mitigation and resilience appraoch to combat the menace was compared to non, which brought Sierra Leone to be one of the countries that out smart the outbreak.

However; the National Tourist Board and the Ministry of Tourism, the Monuments and Relics Commission with it's partners has never relent to face these challenges and proffer continuous solutions towards the growth of the tourism, using domestic tourism as a new phenomenal to reach out to every districts and regions in Sierra Leone, with tourism wake-up message that: "Tourism Na all Man Bizness"

The interest generating in visiting Sierra Leone in this year's WTM is amazing and well pleasing. As this year’s inquiries visiting in November, December and the year 2023 is quite huge.

It is appreciating as local tour operators join this year's WTM: IPC Travel and Tours and Tourism is Life Tours are well represented and very smart in their engagement in giving relevant destination facts on the country.

These two tour operators are as well helping to raise the profile with their well designed and informative brochures, meeting leading Tour Operators in UK and other travel institutions for healthy and partnerships for now and the future: Sherin Kousa of IPC and Peter M. Bassie are creative in their tour operators deals and negotiations.

The Chairman Board of National Tourist Board- Chief Tamba Allieu Kokobaye attended the Ministerial Summit organized in Future Stage in the WTM grounds. His attendance and contributions during the meet and greet session was timely and necessary as Sierra Leone was in full recognition.

We are also well placed with Monuments and Relics Commission showing the Cultural and heritage values of our country: with Mrs. Annemarie Kamara and Mr. Mohamed Farray Kargbo doing their best to attracts Cultural and heritage investments.

With SLEDP Coordinator joining this year's WTM, Mrs. Mary Jalloh assess and monitor Sierra Leone’s impact during the event.2022 WTM supported by Sierra Leone Economic Diversification Project.

National Tourist Board ends three days World Travel Market Exhibition. As they get set for other Tourism engagements in UK as YORK visit shows relevance.

Kai Bockarie-Saquee
*PR003WTMNTB*
Communications and P.R. Unit- National Tourist Board
Explore Freedom.

08/11/2022

Marketing Sierra Leone as a re-emerging destination for global tourists at WTM London 2022

Efforts to revamp Sierra Leone's tourism are currently being made at the World Travel Market (WTM) London 2022.

Led by the National Tourist Board's (NTB) General Manager, Fatmata Mida Carew, the move is geared towards recapturing the European market.

In an interview with online news platform, www.travelmole.com, Mrs Carew called on group tour operators to go to Sierra Leone and explore freedom. She assured that Sierra Leone is blessed with hospitable people, a unique culture and an attractive environment.

Hundreds of travel professionals engaged the delegation from the West African Nation to enquire about visits and what the country has to offer in terms of tourism products.

Series of strategic meetings were held with key stakeholders in Europe, Africa, Asia and the Caribbean.

This is perhaps the biggest gathering of the hospitality sector since the fall of Covid-19. Hundreds of thousands in the sector are showcasing their destinations, products and services.

Two Sierra Leonean tour operators are participating in this year's WTM London trade fair and exhibition - IPC Travels and Tourism is Life tours. The Monuments and Relics Commission is also present.

Sierra Leone's participation in this year's event is sponsored by the Economic Diversification Project

The events which started on Monday November 7 will end on Wednesday November 9, 2022.

07/11/2022

*Tourism Ministry Receives Participants of Budapest-Bamako Freetown Rally*

*6th November, 2022. Balamuya Entry Point, Kambia-* The Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs has received cross-section of participants for the Budapest-Bamako Freetown finish line RALLY at the Sierra Leone-Guinea border in Kambia. The participants were received by the Deputy Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, William I.K Robinson on behalf of the government and people of Sierra Leone.

566 participants from over 40 countries with 242 vehicles and motorbikes have entered Sierra Leone through Balamuya and Madina Oula respectively to participate in the 2022 Budapest-Bamako Freetown finish line rally. The participants left Hungary for Sierra Leone on the 21th October, 2022. They journeyed through Austria, Slovenia, Italy, France, Spain, Morocco, West Sahara, Mauritania, Senegal, Mali, Guinea into Sierra Leone. They covered a total of 11,000 kilometres to get into Sierra Leone. The participants overnight in Magbando village in Masiaka where they interacted and merry with the community people. They are heading to Bureh beach today 7th November for a beach fiesta and then attend the finish line event at Gigibonta car park, Lumley beach on the 8th November 2022.

The Director of Budapest-Bamako Rally, Andrew Szabo said Sierra Leone was a natural choice for the finish line as the government and people of Sierra Leone have been very hospitable and premium has been place on the Tourism industry. He mentioned that they were pleased to be in Sierra Leone and there are plans for more finish line event in Sierra Leone.

The rally participants donated educational materials, laptops to Emil Torday Elementary School in Mangbando village, Koya Chiefdom, Portloko District.

*Information Unit*
*MTCA*
*+23276688755*
*Email:[email protected]*

31/10/2022

*Sierra Leone’s Tourism Minister Receives West Africa Best Tourism Minister Award*

*Lagos, Nigeria. 31th October, 2022-* Sierra Leone’s Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Dr. Memunatu Pratt has at the Akwaaba African Travel Market in Lagos officially received the award for the best West Africa tourism Minister, dedicated the accolade to President Bio, the tourism industry and the people of Sierra Leone.

The Prestigious award was in recognition of Dr. Pratt’s laudable strides in the improvement of tourism and the rebranding of Sierra Leone’s image. She was recently appointed by UNWTO to chair the global platform for women in tourism, a milestone that epitomised international confidence in her leadership.

The Minister, accompanied by the General Manager, Fatmata Hamid Carew and the Marketing Manager, Lucinda Kargbo both from the National Tourist Board (NTB) are in Nigeria to attend this year’s Akwaaba African Travel Market where the Minister, Dr. Pratt was expected to officially receive the award for West Africa Best Tourism Minister having been announced as the winner of the prestigious award.

Prior to receiving the award, Dr. Pratt told selected aviation newsmen at Akwaaba fun and welcome party at Wave Beach, Elegushi area, Lekki, that marketing the tourism sites in West Africa will help to create awareness for tourists to visit and explore the West African destination. She called for an integrated marketing approach to leverage on the opportunities and also yield desired results in the region’s effort to same. She emphasized on regional connectivity and capacity building of sector worker as key enablers for the sector to achieve it fullest potentials. She disclosed that Sierra Leone will for the second time play host to the Budapest-Bamako Freetown Rally commencing 6th October, 2022.

*Information Unit*
*MTCA*
*+23276688755*
*Email:[email protected]*

28/09/2022

*Tourism Ministry Commemorates UNWTO World Tourism Day*

*27th September, 2022. Family Kingdom Resort, Aberdeen Freetown*-The Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs and its agencies with support from the World Bank have celebrated the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) World Tourism Day. The theme for the celebration was: “Rethinking Tourism” “the impact of violence and conflict on tourism, tourism for peace”.

The chairman for the occasion who also doubles as the Minister of Political and Public Affairs, Amb. Foday Yumkella in his opening statements said they were there to observe the World Tourism Day with an important slogan “Tourism for Peace”. He said without peace there can be no tourism and tourism can promote peace. “The complementarity of tourism and peace cannot be overemphasized which has heightened the interest in tourism as a means of promoting peace”, he noted.

The Director of Tourism, Mohamed Jalloh remarked that the celebration of World Tourism Day creates the platform to have a sincere dialogue to address those challenges and take advantage of the opportunities available. The explained the gains made by the sector and the impact of COVID-19 and the war in Ukraine. He said the incident of August 10 captured the attention of renowned international TV channels which has negatively impacted the brand Sierra Leone, adding that what is significant for tourism is for such ugly and horrible images not to cloud the good pictures of Sierra Leone, hence the local theme was “the impact of violence and conflict on tourism” which he said will be discussed at the regional headquarter towns.

The Project Coordinator, Sierra Leone Economic Diversification Project (SLEDP), Mary Jalloh said she was excited to grace the occasion especially as a Sierra Leonean and also to sharing her branding experience about Sierra Leone. She said SLEDP is a World Bank funded project that focuses on transforming the perception of Sierra Leone through the tourism sector. She mentioned that they supported the Ministry to develop the first ever national tourism and rebranding strategy for Sierra Leone while saying that the brand of Sierra Leone is the people of Sierra Leone.

In her keynote address, the Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Dr. Memunatu Pratt said the theme for this year’s celebration was a deliberate attempt by the Ministry to set up their awareness raising campaign and change the mind-set of young folks about the dangers of conflicts and its attendant consequences. “The 27th September every year was regarded by UNWTO as a special day for the celebration of the World Tourism Day since 1980, the day was chosen to promote public awareness on the immense contributions of tourism and the socio-economic growth of nations and to promote peace and socio-cultural cohesion globally as well as to reflect on the challenges faced by the industry, she explained.

She maintained that tourism and peace has been a complimentary factor impacting each other. A positive development in one leads to the same in the other while negative development also drives in negative impact. She added that tourism activities have the potential to bridge settlement across areas of conflict, saying that there was the need to enhance the awareness raising campaign on tourism activities and its inter-relationship impact on peace to maximize society’s benefit from our positive relation, a feature she said this year’s commemoration intends to achieve. She highlighted the significant gains made by the sector and called for concerted efforts across the board to ensure that those gains are sustained.

Representative from the Independent Commission for Peace and National Cohesion, Office of National Security, Africa Peer Review Mechanism, Council of Paramount Chiefs and the Hotel Association all made relevant contributions to the occasion. High level panel discussions on “tourism for peace (youth violence, conflict and tourism) and “tourism and business”, climaxed the occasion.

*Information Unit*
*MTCA*
*+23276688755*
*Email:[email protected]*

02/09/2022

*Sierra Leone set to Host 2022 Budapest-Freetown Challenge*

*1st September, 2022.*

The Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs (MTCA) and the National Tourist Board (NTB) have in a press briefing with journalist and stakeholders of MDA’s confirmed that Sierra Leone will for the second time be the host country for the finish line of the 2022 Budapest-Freetown Challenge.

The General Manager of the National Tourist Board, Fatmata Hamid-Carew recalled that the Ministry and its agency, NTB launched the Budapest-Freetown Challenge in February 2022, but due to the effect of covid and the closure of borders of participating countries, there were doubts that the event would hold this year. She was pleased to inform the gathering that the Budapest Rally 2022 will be hosted in Sierra Leone.

The Director of Tourism, Mohamed Jalloh told the gathering that because of the fruitful and effective collaboration with MDA’s, including Office of the President, Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Sierra Leone Police the 2020 rally in Freetown was successful and that is why the event is being brought to Freetown again as the final destination. He said this year’s rally has attracted 566 participants with 242 vehicles to participate from the start line. He explained that the rally begins from Hungary to West Africa through the Sahara, it passes through Hungary, Austria or Slovenia, Italy, France, Spain, Morocco, Western Sahara, Mauritania, Senegal, Mali, Guinea and ends in Freetown. He continued that the rally will enter Sierra Leone through Balamuya on the 6th November, 2022 and the finish line ceremony will be held on the 8th November, 2022 with President Bio as the Keynote speaker.

The Minister of Internal Affairs, David Panda Noah said he was excited to be part of the rally again having been involved in 2020 event during his time at SLRSA. He called on Sierra Leoneans to work with the Ministry and the security sector to ensure that the visitors are safe while assuring that his Ministry will play its part in ensuring that the event is done is a safe and secure environment.

In her address, the Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Dr. Memunatu Pratt expressed delight that the event is happening again in Sierra Leone, saying that for them to deliver on this mandate there should be a strong collaboration between her Ministry and other MDA’s as it happened during the 2020 rally in Freetown. She maintained that Sierra Leone got remarkable commendations for the way they handled the finish line in 2020 and it was considered the best destination since they started the rally in 2005, hence they are hosting the Budapest-Freetown challenge in 2022. She said bringing of over 600 visitors to Sierra Leone shows a strong registration of international confidence in Sierra Leone in terms of safety, collaboration, hospitality and cultural awareness.

*Information Unit*
*MTCA*
*+23276688755*
*Email:[email protected]*