By Abdul Martins Foday Amara
The Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs updated journalists in a press conference on its line of activities to commemorate World Tourism Day. This year’s theme for the global tourism celebration is "Tourism and Peace." The Ministry, its agencies, and the Independent Commission for Peace and National Cohesion (ICPNC) have lined up a series of activities to commemorate UN World Tourism Day.
World Tourism Day is observed globally on September 27th and serves as a powerful reminder of tourism's vital contributions to nations' social, cultural, political, and economic fabric. It is a day to celebrate the transformative power of tourism, promote responsible and sustainable practices, and recognize the rich cultural diversity that tourism helps to showcase.
Highlighting the importance of the commemoration, Director of Tourism, Travel and Exchange, Mohamed Jalloh, intimated that the celebration of World Tourism Day is used to raise awareness of the significance of tourism and its contribution to the socioeconomic growth of nations and the improvement of livelihood of communities. He stated that the theme, Tourism, and Peace, resonated with Sierra Leone's UN Security Presidency of "Maintaining Peace and Security"; hence, they are using this year's celebration to highlight the importance of tourism in harnessing peace and non-violent resolution to the conflict. He continued that the Ministry and its sub-vented agencies and partners have lined up key activities commemorating World Tourism Day.
Senior Conflict Prevention Manager, Independent Commission for Peace and National Cohesion (ICPNC) James Tamba Turay expressed gratitude to the Ministry for the Partnership commemorating World Tourism Day. He maintained that the theme of tourism and peace resonated with the ICPNC celebration of the UN International Day of Peace, which was themed "Cultivating the Culture of Peace," signifying the importance of collaboration in commemorating World Tourism Day.
Reading the Press Statement on behalf of Minister Nabeela Tunis, Deputy Secretary, Sahr. Phillip Morsay highlighted tourism's pivotal role in promoting peace and resolving conflicts within and across borders. "The synergies between tourism and peace cannot be overstated, as the sector's potential to foster understanding, cultural exchange, and social cohesion is immense," he stated.
"To mark this year's World Tourism Day, the Ministry, its agencies, and partners have planned events to engage rural communities, schools, tourism businesses, and youth and women groups. The activities, which include symposia, peace tours, and debates, are designed to raise public awareness of the symbiotic relationship between tourism and peace. Additionally, he stated that these events will promote domestic tourism, highlighting its economic benefits and role in fostering social and cultural unity," he stated. Questions posed by journalists to seek clarity on the planned activities by the Ministry were swiftly answered by the Director of Tourism and other staff of the Ministry and NTB.
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