The Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs under the dynamic leadership of Dr. Memunatu Pratt on Thursday 6th January 2020 with support of the World Bank make a significant step forward in promoting the country’s tourist sector with the hosting of a national consultative conference on the assessment of suggested tourism sites for product development.

The event took place at the Miatta Conference Center ay Youyi building, Brookfields.
Madam Minister note that the discussions started months back with open discussions with various multi-sector stakeholders, including the consultants.

She noted that this first historic national conference on the future of our tourist destinations – islands, beaches,etc, was important because preservation of our natural tourist resources for decades.

She stated that the presentations and findings of the assessment will try to see what their socioeconomic and cultural benefits are in making them attractive.

She said what is needed is well planned, well managed destinations that give value for money to tourists, noting that tourism is a highly competitive sector, with favored destinations offering facilities for leisure, adventure, entertainment, business, etc.

Thus, she said destination management requires a well- coordinated integrated approach, stating that before now government intervention has been minimal leading to threat of some sites becoming extinct due to logging, sand mining and other destructive human economic activities.

Thus, the aim is how to protect and promote these sites with well- designed packages and programs that include, transportation, hospitality that makes the sites well- functioning productive destinations.

Madam Pratt maintained that Sierra Leone is endowed with attractive natural sites suitable for eco-tourism that need government intervention in destination management in terms of how to make them attractive with the right kind of facilities

She thanked the National Tourist Board and staff of the ministry for their contribution to the country’s tourism progress, noting that Sierra Leone is one of the most peaceful countries in the world.

Meanwhile, she reported that Sierra Leone has qualified for the Enhanced Integrated Framework that will provide the ministry with funding and assistance to develop sites such as Banana Island and Tiwai Island.