By Staff Writer

The Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs has taken another major step toward strengthening Sierra Leone’s tourism, hospitality, and creative industries by convening a high-level consultative meeting with key private sector stakeholders to chart a new course for the sector’s future development.

The strategic engagement, held at the Dove’s Nest in Aberdeen, Freetown, brought together executives from tourism, hospitality, cultural, and creative industry associations to deliberate on the establishment of a unified National Tourism Federation and to enhance private sector participation in the Ministry’s upcoming programmes and national events.

The meeting formed part of the Ministry’s broader agenda to improve tourism governance, promote stronger collaboration among industry players, and position the sector as a key driver of economic growth, employment creation, and sustainable national development.

A major focus of the discussions was the formation of the National Tourism Federation, which is expected to serve as the umbrella body representing the interests of tourism and hospitality stakeholders while strengthening engagement between government and the private sector.

Speaking on behalf of the Transitional Leadership Committee (TLC), Secretary-General Abdul Karim Jalloh presented the newly recategorized list of stakeholder associations that will constitute the Federation.

According to him, the proposed structure is intended to ensure broad representation across the tourism value chain while giving every segment of the industry a stronger voice in policy formulation and sector development.

The associations include 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 (CSOs in Tourism).

Director of Tourism Mohamed Jalloh reviewed progress made since previous stakeholder engagements and unveiled a comprehensive roadmap for establishing the Federation.

The roadmap outlines a series of activities beginning with the finalization of the Federation’s Constitution, followed by the establishment of an Electoral Committee, the conduct of elections, and the inauguration of the Federation’s first elected Executive.

According to the proposed calendar, these activities will take place between August 5 and September 25, 2026, culminating in the official inauguration of the Federation’s leadership.

Mr. Jalloh emphasized the importance of adhering strictly to the agreed timelines, noting that the planned Federation elections in September represent a critical milestone in building a strong and credible private sector institution capable of effectively representing the industry’s interests.

Welcoming participants, Permanent Secretary Judith Johnson described the meeting as a defining moment for Sierra Leone’s tourism sector.

She said the decisions reached during the consultations would shape the future direction of tourism, hospitality, and the creative industries for years to come.

Mrs. Johnson urged stakeholders to embrace collective responsibility, strengthen cooperation across the industry, and focus on producing practical outcomes capable of enhancing tourism’s contribution to national development.

She emphasized that sustained collaboration between government and the private sector remains essential to unlocking the sector’s full economic potential.

The meeting also featured extensive discussions, questions, recommendations, and contributions from representatives of the various tourism associations, reflecting a shared commitment to strengthening institutional coordination and addressing common industry challenges.

Delivering the keynote address, Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs Nabeela Farida Tunis called on industry leaders to put past divisions behind them and seize the opportunities created by recent reforms within the tourism sector.

She highlighted the sector’s new legal and institutional framework, describing it as a transformative foundation capable of accelerating the growth of tourism, hospitality, and the creative economy.

According to the Minister, the proposed activity calendar should serve as a strategic roadmap that stakeholders can refine collectively to ensure the successful establishment of a vibrant and effective National Tourism Federation.

Madam Tunis encouraged participants to demonstrate visionary leadership, embrace innovation, and strengthen collaboration in order to build a more competitive tourism industry capable of attracting greater investment and international recognition.

She further stressed that tourism has enormous potential to diversify Sierra Leone’s economy, create sustainable employment opportunities, preserve the country’s rich cultural heritage, and promote inclusive economic growth across communities.

The Minister reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to working closely with the private sector to unlock new opportunities for investment, improve service standards, and enhance Sierra Leone’s profile as an attractive tourism destination within the West African region.

The consultative meeting concluded with a renewed commitment from stakeholders to work together toward establishing a unified National Tourism Federation that will effectively advocate for the industry’s interests, strengthen public-private partnerships, and support the Ministry’s vision of transforming tourism into one of Sierra Leone’s leading economic sectors.

Participants expressed optimism that the Federation would provide a stronger institutional platform for collaboration, policy advocacy, capacity building, and sustainable industry growth while positioning Sierra Leone’s tourism, hospitality, and creative industries to compete more effectively on both regional and international stages.