Sierra Leone’s Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Nabeela Farida Tunis, today pledged her country’s full support for Shaikha Nasser Al Nowais, who was unanimously elected as the new Secretary-General of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation at the 26th General Assembly. Al Nowais succeeds Zurab Pololikashvili, and in her first remarks, she outlined an ambitious agenda for transformative change in the global tourism industry, with a focus on sustainability, community empowerment, and technological innovation.
Minister Tunis expressed gratitude to the outgoing Secretary-General for his leadership and for championing sustainability and digital innovation in tourism during his speech at the assembly. She also emphasised the importance of incorporating new technologies into the industry, expressing Sierra Leone’s appreciation for efforts to elevate artificial intelligence and innovation on the global tourism agenda. “We thank His Excellency Mr Ahmed Al Khateeb for his role in integrating Artificial Intelligence and innovation into the global tourism dialogue,” Tunisia’s minister said. He added, “Sierra Leone proudly joins Member States in welcoming and congratulating the incoming Secretary-General, the first woman to lead UN Tourism.”
Minister Tunis discussed Sierra Leone’s recent progress and initiatives, including the successful hosting of the Women in Tourism Leadership Africa Committee regional congress in Freetown. She used the platform to invite international delegates to two major events that the country will host: the Third African Gastronomy Forum, which will be held in Freetown next year, and the Budapest Bamako Freetown Challenge, billed as the world’s largest amateur rally, which will be held in February.
“We call on Member States and partners to join us in making the African Gastronomy Forum a continental platform for celebrating Africa’s rich culinary heritage and empowering the women and communities who sustain it,” Minister Tunis stated, emphasising the importance of inclusive, community-driven tourism in Sierra Leone’s approach.
Minister Tunis reaffirmed Sierra Leone’s commitment to the UN Tourism vision of a more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable tourism sector on behalf of His Excellency President Dr Julius Maada Bio and the people of the country.
Minister Tunis is leading a Sierra Leone delegation to the conference that includes Alhaji Abdul Aziz Turay, Deputy Ambassador to Saudi Arabia; Judith Jones, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs; Mohamed Jalloh, Director of Tourism Travel and Exchange Programmes; and Alhaji Ibrahim Koi-Dowui, Sierra Leone’s Cultural Attaché to Saudi Arabia.
