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The Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs (MTCA) and its agencies, with support from the Sierra Leone Economic Diversification Project (SLEDP), have extended the nationwide Nature-Based Digital Ecotourism Training to Kono District, reinforcing the Ministry’s commitment to capacity building and sustainable tourism development.
The training, held at the District Council Hall, was chaired by Assistant Director of Tourism, Travel and Exchange Program, Hilton Leigh, who underscored the importance of ecotourism as a driver of community empowerment, environmental protection, and local economic growth. Deputy Director of Tourism, Idrissa Bangura, outlined the objectives of the programme, stressing the need for communities to embrace digital tools, sustainable practices, and cultural promotion in tourism.
Facilitators focused on content creation for Sierra Leone’s cultural and natural attractions, the tourism value chain, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable tourism models. Participants engaged actively and discussed how to apply these lessons to Kono’s unique history and attractions.
Chiefdom stakeholders welcomed the initiative, pledging to work with the Ministry to promote ecotourism locally. Participants also joined the Ministry’s 2025 Year of Ecotourism Campaign, demonstrating their ownership of the process.
Beyond the sessions, the MTCA team conducted field visits to key cultural and historical sites, including Love Garden (Kondayque Centre), Tomudu Village mass gravesite, the Savage Pit, Diamond Lodge, and Captain Lendy’s Colonial Gravesite in Waiyma. The visits deepened participants’ understanding of Kono’s historical narratives and their potential as ecotourism offerings.
Through such engagements, the Ministry continues to strengthen local capacity while positioning Kono as a district that integrates history, culture, and sustainability into tourism development.
