The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism, concluded a three-day Women in Tourism Regional Congress, accompanied by a trade fair held at the Gigibonta car park in Lumley. The congress, themed “Beyond Empowerment to Education, Innovation, and Financial Access,” aimed to enhance the role of women in tourism through improved access to resources, education, and sustainable development initiatives.
In her opening remarks during the conference leading up to the trade fair , the Honourable Nabeela Farida Tunis, Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, expressed her gratitude to all participants from across Africa who gathered for this significant event. She highlighted the government’s commitment to advancing the tourism sector and commended her ministry for its dedicated efforts.
Describing the congress as a milestone for Sierra Leone, the Minister emphasized the necessity of developing an inclusive and actionable agenda that supports women in tourism at both local and continental levels. Furthermore, she extended her appreciation to Ms. Natalia Bayona, Executive Director of the UNWTO, for providing 100 scholarships for tourism studies.
Minister Tunis underscored the significance of the three days filled with educational sessions and transformative experiences for women to enhance their professional agendas. She encouraged attendees to fully embrace Sierra Leone’s hospitality. The primary objective of the Women in Tourism Regional Congress, as articulated by the Minister, is to advance beyond mere empowerment by equipping women with essential resources, insights, support, and equitable opportunities.
Over the following days, female ministers and influential women from across Africa will engage with local participants, including women-led and women-owned tourism enterprises in Sierra Leone, to deliberate on gender equality and empowerment. These discussions aim to identify solutions that promote a more sustainable and gender-equal tourism sector, positively affecting women's lives.
In conclusion, she emphasized that the congress would address gender equality, economic diversification, job creation, and the establishment of networks to support sustainable tourism on both local and global scales.
In a video message, Ms. Natalia Bayona, Executive Director of the UNWTO, expressed her appreciation for the Ministry of Tourism's initiative to empower women through tourism. She recognized the contributions of academic institutions and high-level delegates in creating a supportive ecosystem. Highlighting recent statistics indicating that 54% of roles in tourism are occupied by women, with 35% of women leading or founding startups, Ms. Bayona emphasized the urgent need to confront the challenges faced by women in the tourism industry.
She advocated for educational reforms spanning from secondary schools to higher education to enhance women’s participation. Additionally, she promoted youth entrepreneurship, particularly through innovations that foster digitalization and support small and medium enterprises (SMEs) across Africa. Ms. Bayona concluded by announcing that the UNWTO had awarded 100 scholarships for its online academy, targeting individuals aspiring to advance in hospitality, culinary arts, gastronomy, artificial intelligence, and hotel management.
Delivering the keynote address, His Excellency Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, Vice President of Sierra Leone, expressed gratitude to the UNWTO Secretary-General for selecting Freetown as the host city for this pivotal event. He noted that since the government took office in 2018, it has prioritized the development of human capital, recognizing tourism as a vital revenue-generating sector that facilitates economic diversification. The Vice President highlighted the integral role of tourism in the President’s Big Five Agenda, with women contributing significantly as both consumers and active participants in the tourism ecosystem. He pointed out the economic benefits generated through job creation and affirmed the government’s commitment to furthering sector development.
Moreover, he acknowledged the recent increase in visitor numbers, attributing this growth to the efforts of the ministry and its collaborators. The Vice President reaffirmed the government's dedication to investing resources in the enhancement of tourist sites and the implementation of targeted training programs designed to empower women within the sector.
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