On October 4, 2024, Sierra Leone’s Tourism Minister, Hon. Nabeela F. Tunis, joined other Ministers of Tourism from Africa and the Americas at the 1st UN Tourism Africa and the Americas Summit in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.

The Punta Cana Declaration aligns with Sierra Leone’s National Development Plan 2024-2030 (Big Five Game Changers) and President Julius Maada Bio’s vision for tourism. Minister Tunis proposed hosting the 2026 UN Tourism Africa and the Americas Summit in Freetown, Sierra Leone.

In a bilateral meeting with Dominican Republic’s Tourism Minister, H.E. David Collado, both sides agreed to promote tourism and investment and instructed their respective teams to start working on it. Discussions focused on connectivity, hospitality, capacity building, and beach management.

Mrs. Nabeela Tunis also informed the summit that Sierra Leone will host the 1st UN Women in Tourism Regional Congress and WiTLAC in Freetown from October 29-31, 2024. The event, she said aims to empower women in tourism wit
h financial resources, training, and mentorship.

The Punta Cana Declaration which was adopted by all 27 participating countries, promotes South-South Cooperation for sustainable development between Africa and the Americas, aligning with the 2030 Agenda. The covenants of the declaration also seeks to promote investment in tourism infrastructure, education, innovation and the creative industries.

It should be noted that Minister Nabeela Tunis has in a short period since her appointment to lead the Tourism Ministry, laid a solid foundation with the Tourism For All Campaign. She is currently working assiduously to strengthen international networks and branding to make our destination attractive. It is also worthy to note that the Ministry has recently repositioned itself in a way that it seamlessly aligns with promoting international partnerships including the just concluded Punta Cana summit and its outcome deceleration.

Source: Sierra Leone News Agency