By Saio Marrah
In an effort to boost tourism and attract private investment, the government of Sierra Leone is set to upgrade touristic sites across the country in 2022. The move to upgrade sites such as Leicester Peak, Banana Island, Tacugama Sanctuary and Bureh Beach, according to the Minister of Finance, Dr. Dennis K. Vandi, is supported by the World Bank through the Sierra Leone Economic Diversification Project.
The Minister said this while presenting the 2022 government budget in Parliament, on Friday 19th November, 2021.
He added that the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF) Project, will upgrade the Banana Island, Tiwai Island Wildlife Sanctuary, and the Wara-Wara Hills in line with the eco-tourism policy. He said the project will provide a grant, targeting community-based tourism at the three sites to enhance and add value to the existing facilities.
In addition to the newly constructed Tourism Information Centre in the Western Area that provides tourism -related details to visitors, he said the grant will also go towards the construction of an Information Centre in each of the towns of Gbalamuya and Zimmi , on the Guinean and Liberian borders, respectively.
He said government does not only identify the tourism as one of the growth sectors to aid the diversification of the economy for the creation of job opportunities for the population, but also a source of support in the recovery process of the sector and position Sierra Leone as a competitive and attractive tourist destination.
According to him, the implementation of the Marketing and Rebranding Strategy, that includes a new logo and slogan for Sierra Leone, will commence in 2022. The National Tourist Board will also continue to undertake robust marketing through participation in international trade fairs and exhibitions, digital marketing and promotional campaigns. He said the Ministry of Tourism will also intensify efforts to promote domestic tourism.
The budget allocated to that sector is 23.4 billion Leones of which 9.3 billion Leones is for staff salaries and that 9.5 billion from the recurrent budget, as support to the National Tourist Board, Monument and Relics Commission and National Railway Museums.
5.2 billion Leones will be allocated to the National Tourist Board from the domestic capital budget including 1.2 billion Leones as counterpart contribution for five Tourist Information Centres. 4 billion Leones will serve as counterpart contribution to donor funded projects coordinated by the board.
The Minister also noted that the Monuments and Relics Commission will receive 5.5 billion Leones for the preservation of Bunce Island and rehabilitation of the Old Fourah Bay College Building at Clinetown.
He said development partners such as UNDP, World Bank and USA will disburse 49.2 billion Leones for the implementation of the Sustainable Tourism and Coastal Risk Management Projects that will be implemented by the board.
Copyright © Politico Online 24/11/21
