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The Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, in collaboration with the National Association of Certified Tour Guides-Sierra Leone, marked World Tour Guide Day on February 21, 2025, with an educational nature tour to the Tacugama Wildlife Sanctuary.
This year’s celebration, themed “Tour Guides as Ambassadors,” highlighted the crucial role of tour guides in shaping positive tourist experiences. World Tour Guide Day, observed annually on February 21st in over 70 countries, aims to raise awareness about the profession and its impact on tourism.
President of the National Association of Certified Tour Guides in Sierra Leone, Peter Momoh Bassie in his remarks, appreciated the unwavering support of the Ministry towards the celebration.
He explained that the three-day celebration started with a vox pox where citizens sent their concerns on ecotourism promotion, followed by a symposium at the Peace and Cultural Monuments and the Nature Hike to Tacugama, all aimed at raising awareness about the protection and conservation of the environment.
Director of Tourism, Travel and Exchange Programme, Mohamed Jalloh acknowledged that the protection of Tacugama and the forest reserve is the desire of President Julius Maada Bio, hence the Ministry is focusing on Ecotourism for 2025. He on behalf of Minister Nabeela Tunis appreciated the Tour Guides for their immense contribution in enhancing visitors’ experience by going into hard-to-reach terrains.
He mentioned that the hike to Tacugama to commemorate World Tour Guides Day was a rallying call and the continued efforts of the Ministry and relevant line MDAs to combat destructive human activities and also restore the authenticity of the forest reserve.
Tourism practitioners, tourism institutions, and nature lovers were all part of this endeavor, underscoring the Ministry’s 2025 Ecotourism focus aimed at connecting conservation, culture, and communities.
