The Director of Tourism, Mohamed Jalloh has on Tuesday May 10, 2022 presented opportunities for investment in the tourism sector to the Spanish Ambassador to Sierra Leone and Guinea, Christian Font Calderon.
He made this presentation when Ambassador Calderon and the Honorary Counsel of Spain, Antonio Yazbeck paid a courtesy visit on the Deputy Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, William I.K. Robinson in the Ministry’s conference room in Freetown.
The deputy Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, on behalf of the Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs and the entire hospitality sector welcomed the Ambassador and the Honorary Counsel to the Ministry. He said a lot has been done in changing the tourism narrative because of the aggressive marketing of Sierra Leone as a tourists destination that took them to many European countries including Spain, which he said was aimed at erasing the negative perception of Sierra Leone and presenting the destination as one that is ready for business.
The Spanish Ambassador, Christian Font Calderon said during the Futir in Madrid earlier this year, he was particularly impressed with the Sierra Leonean delegation on how they marketed their destination, hence he was at the Ministry to get first-hand information on the status of the country’s tourism and plans going forward. He mentioned that the country has huge touristic potentials which, he said, can be harnessed. He talked about the cultural exchanges between the two countries and the possibility of bringing tourist from Spain to explore Sierra Leone.
Presenting tourism investment opportunities to the Spanish Ambassador, the Director of Tourism, Mohamed Jalloh thanked the Ambassador for facilitating the visas for the delegation that participated in the Fitur, Madrid in Spain. He said the trip to Spain was successful as they were able to create networks for the development of tourism in Sierra Leone.
In his presentation, Director Jalloh explained why tourism matters, tourism unique selling points in Sierra Leone, achievements made by the sector prior to COVID-19, the impacts of COVID-19 on the tourism industry, policy reforms, key products of Sierra Leone as a tourist destination, opportunities for investment: land, air, sea and incentives the Ministry could give to investors. He hoped that the relationship between the two countries can be beneficial going forward.
By Sallieu S. Kanu