The Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs has intensified efforts to establish a National Tourism Federation following a high-level consultative meeting with leaders of the tourism, hospitality and creative industries in Freetown.

The meeting, held on July 28, 2026, at Dove’s Nest in Aberdeen, brought together government officials and private sector representatives to discuss the federation’s formation and strengthen collaboration aimed at advancing Sierra Leone’s tourism sector.

A key focus of the discussions was the organisational structure of the proposed federation and the roadmap for its establishment ahead of a series of planned sector activities.

Presenting on behalf of the Transitional Leadership Committee (TLC), Secretary General Abdul Karim Jalloh unveiled a recategorised framework of stakeholder associations that will form the federation. The proposed structure comprises the Association of Small-Scale Enterprises in Tourism (ASSET), Association of Entertainers (AE), Association of Creative Tourism Services (ACTS), Tourism Transportation Association (TAT), Association of Accommodations (AHA), Hospitality Association of Service Providers (HASP), Tourism Business Owners and Investment Network (TBOIN), Association of Tourism and Hospitality Professionals (ATHOP), Association of Community-Based Tourism Organisations (ACTO), and Tourism Civil Society Organisations and Media Platforms.

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Director of Tourism Mohamed Jalloh reviewed previous commitments and presented a timeline for completing the federation’s establishment. The schedule includes finalising the federation’s constitution, constituting an Electoral Committee, conducting elections and inaugurating elected executives between August 5 and September 25, 2026.

He urged stakeholders to adhere strictly to the agreed timetable, noting that the successful conduct of the federation’s elections in September will be critical to establishing a strong and representative industry body.

Welcoming participants, Permanent Secretary Judith Johnson described the meeting as an important step towards strengthening cooperation across the sector. She encouraged stakeholders to embrace collective responsibility and ensure that decisions reached translate into practical actions that support the growth of Sierra Leone’s tourism industry.

The meeting also featured extensive discussions among representatives of the various stakeholder groups, who offered recommendations and proposals on the federation’s structure, governance and future operations.

Delivering the keynote address, Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs Nabeela Farida Tunis called on industry leaders to put aside past divisions and work together to build a unified federation capable of advancing the interests of the sector.

She said the country’s new legal framework for tourism provides an opportunity to transform the industry and urged stakeholders to adopt innovative and forward-looking approaches in developing the federation.

The Minister also encouraged participants to refine the proposed activity calendar collectively, stressing that strong leadership, collaboration and shared commitment will be essential to positioning tourism, hospitality and the creative industries as key drivers of economic diversification, investment and employment.

The consultative meeting marked another milestone in the Ministry’s efforts to establish a unified National Tourism Federation that will represent the interests of tourism stakeholders and strengthen the sector’s contribution to Sierra Leone’s economic development.