Tourism Ministry Mobilises Stakeholders for World Tourism Day Health Walk in Freetown
Alusine Ahmed Kargbo The Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs (MTCA) has mobilised hundreds of tourism stakeholders for a health walk in Freetown as part of activities marking World Tourism Day 2026.
The exercise, held on Sunday, brought together Ministry staff, representatives of its agencies, private-sector operators and other tourism partners to promote healthy living, environmental awareness and the development of Sierra Leone’s tourism industry.
Participants assembled at Aberdeen Road Junction and followed a designated route before concluding at Gigibonta Car Park, where a brief programme was held.
Speaking at the close of the exercise, Senior Permanent Secretary Judith C. Jones thanked participants for their support and commended the Ministry’s leadership and staff for organising the event.
Madam Jones described the exercise as beneficial to both physical well-being and teamwork. She disclosed that she had not participated in a similar physical activity for more than a decade and encouraged the Ministry to consider making such exercises a quarterly activity for staff and stakeholders.
Director of Tourism Mohamed Jalloh highlighted the connection between healthy lifestyles and environmental sustainability. He said activities such as the health walk help promote awareness of environmental protection and encourage people to adopt more sustainable practices.
Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs Nabeela Farida Tunis also thanked participants and reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to advancing Sierra Leone’s tourism sector through inclusive and innovative initiatives.
Madam Tunis used the occasion to introduce the Ministry’s newly launched AI-powered Tourism Chatbot Portal, which is intended to improve access to tourism information and enhance the visitor experience through digital technology.
She also highlighted upcoming cultural and tourism activities planned to conclude Sierra Leone’s Year of Culture and Creativity, including the One Nation Reggae Festival and the Third United Nations Africa Gastronomy Conference.
The World Tourism Day health walk provided an opportunity for stakeholders to combine physical fitness, environmental awareness, networking and tourism promotion while strengthening collaboration among public institutions, private-sector operators and communities.
The Ministry said the activity forms part of its broader World Tourism Day programme and reflects the sector’s role in promoting social well-being, environmental stewardship, cultural development and economic growth.