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The Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs (MTCA) of Sierra Leone hosted an information session at the Bintumani Hotel to showcase three newly developed touristic sites, which include Leicester Peak Viewing Deck, Tacugama Innovation Centre, and Bureh Beach Surf Club and Jetty.
The initiative, supported by the World Bank through the Sierra Leone Economic Diversification Project (SLEDP), aims to attract private sector investments and enhance the country’s tourism infrastructure.
The event gathered government officials, international investors, and private sector representatives, all eager to learn about the facilities and resources available at these sites.
The session focused on the commercial potential of the locations and outlined a strategic vision for their long-term management, including opportunities for public-private partnerships.
The Senior Permanent Secretary, Edward Kwame Yankson, who chaired the event, expressed the Ministry’s commitment to raising awareness about the sites and fostering partnerships. He urged private sector players to contribute ideas and collaborate to ensure the success of these tourism initiatives. “We are keen on promoting national pride and revitalizing the sector,” Yankson stated.
Minister of Finance, Sheku Fantamadi Bangura praised the MTCA’s efforts, noting that the initiative aligns with the government’s goal of economic diversification. He highlighted the crucial role of the private sector in unlocking the tourism sector’s potential, which can lead to job creation and increased revenue. Bangura commended Minister Nabeela Tunis for her leadership in achieving impressive tourism figures.
In her keynote address, Minister Tunis affirmed the importance of private sector engagement, advocating for dynamic partnerships among the public sector, private operators, and local communities.
She revealed that recent consultations indicated a strong preference for private management of the sites, with the government providing oversight. “This tripartite model offers the most effective path for sustainability and local ownership,” she asserted.
The developments coincide with the Year of Ecotourism 2025, which aims to protect and expand Sierra Leone’s natural and cultural assets, positioning the country as a premier ecotourism destination.
Director of Tourism, Travel and Exchange Programme, Mohamed Jalloh, provided a detailed presentation on the facilities and resources at each site, outlining their commercial potential and requirements for further enhancement. His presentation was complemented by a video documentary showcasing the three sites to prospective investors.
The session concluded with a Question and Answer segment, where sector professionals addressed audience inquiries regarding site management, further emphasizing the collaborative approach to tourism development in Sierra Leone.
She is doing great work, action oriented.
Thanks very much Madam minister.
Anytime l see completed project or development in Sierra Leone my mind will run at the amount of money that most have been budgeted for such development, because our monitoring system is weak and not credible. The stolen money will triple the actual amount used.