CategoriesNews By Sierra Leone National Tourist Board

CANADIAN TOUR OPERATING COMPANY CONFIRMS SIERRA LEONE AS A TOURISM MELTING POT.

In changing the storyline of a tourism destination like Sierra Leone, from hoax and negative hypes.
 
The right moves to attract the tourist generating regions is through constant Destination marketing using B2B strategy and approach as introduced by the Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs using a tool kit known as “Tourism Governance” (TG) with smart tourism push-out engagement as it is done now.
The Managing Director who also served as VP buying Mr Yves Marceau received the team and thoroughly briefed on their operations over the years.
 
Yves through these engagements was able to state out that Adventure travel is more than a vacation. It’s a chance to get to know your world better by putting yourself on a first-name basis with the people, places, and things that make it worth exploring. The group is a small group with adventure travel experts, and have been existence for over 20 years.
 
They have got that way to design customer base by listening to travellers and giving them what they want: Top-notch tours in top-notch places with top-notch staff at great prices, and Sierra Leone is no mistake for future exchanges in travel and tours business.
 
G Adventures agreed on partnering with Sierra Leone on establishing tourism-based development projects that aid the profile of the destination.
 
Capacity building was part of the conclusions met, that training the community-based Tourism workers is part of their portfolio for the past twenty years. This approach has yielded phantom rewards in other destinations in Africa, and these Yves believed can be transferred to Sierra Leone.
Transfer of expertise to whatever projects are their mastery, especially Ecotourism site Developments and Management. Therefore, this ideal meeting if deliberations could further as suggested by the G Adventures.
 
The meeting closed with tight and firm deals, of stronger exchanges and coherently set future preparation and plans to visualise these mindsets.
 
Submitted by,
Kai B Saquee
Marketing and Publicist
NTB/MTCA
CategoriesNews By Sierra Leone National Tourist Board

NIAGARA CITY MAYOR -ONTARIO AND SIERRA LEONE MINISTER OF TOURISM SETTLED DEALS FOR HEALTHY PARTNERSHIP FOR TOURISM DEVELOPMENT

It has happened again today in the twinkled of an eye, Sierra Leone Minister of Tourism and Culture clinched another partnership and collaboration deal and settlement within twenty-five minutes of one on one discussion with Mayor James M. Diodati of Niagara City Ontario.
Giving a detailed backdrop of the meeting, the Minister and delegation did a morning site visits to the Niagara Tourism Village, this village and settlement attract quite a huge number of tourist, for its beauty, history, heritage, antiques and many more. During the tour the Minister attracted many aged Canadian women, who were interested in African Sierra Leone attire, this drew more attention and created interviews for the Minister and delegation for the purpose of visit and why Niagara?. Well, the Minister of tourism with full alacrity responded accordingly as usual.
As the conducted tour concluded, the team had a proper observatory and concurrent approach with a strong benchmark in how Sierra Leone can transform her colonial settlements to a beautiful and active tourist attraction site, which will raise awareness and generate income and employment with viable socio-economic benefits.
Mayor James M. Diodati of Niagara City Ontario, a receptive and friendly Mayor Niagara City. His receptiveness gave the Minister and team a flexible and comfortable atmosphere for success deliberations. The Mayor just on arrival handed the Minister of Tourism a welcome gift of acceptance assuring the Minister that she is indeed welcome. Well “Boe Tah Boe Nah” he who gives must expect to be given. Just after the presentation of the Mayor, the Minister in return also presented Sierra Leone’s Tourism promotional materials one after the other, this gives the Mayor a shuck as he wasn’t expectant with the numerous rendered.
A special exchange of the Sierra Leone and Canadian lapel pins was fixed on both Officials as a symbol honorary, statesmanship and acceptance of partnerships and dual collaborations betwixt the two ascendancies. It was just after these friendly token, that the mayor in his full senses declared readiness for a healthy partnership and collaboration with Sierra Leone Tourism with supports for tourism developments in Sierra Leone.
Just at the end of the successful meeting, the team was taken to see, feel, and share experience from the Niagara Falls. Polishing the deals the team visited one of the Seven Wonders of the World, that is Niagara Falls located in Ontario, this amazing waterfall is linked and perched with the United State by New York city border. This site on the Niagara River’s western shore buoyantly overlooks the Horseshoe Falls, with the Cascades’ most expansive sections and well pathed ancient water rocks splashes water mist, as the rainbow gives the genuine ambience of hope to visitors. Keep in touch as more news unfolds From Canada.
Submitted by,
Kai B,Saquee
Marketing and Publicist
CategoriesNews By Sierra Leone National Tourist Board

SIERRA LEONE SET TO ATTRACT CRUISE SHIPS THROUGH MONTREAL’S CRUISE DIALOGUES

“Sierra Leone meets the pre-requisite for Cruise liners,” says Montreal Cruise port Manager.
 
It has been a successful day for the Sierra Leone Tourism delegation, even though queued with random meetings and discussions around the development of the tourism sector and other related spheres.
 
Leaving Ottawa to Montreal takes a minimum of three hours by road and approximately one hour by flight, the team made a safe arrival by road to Montreal. Montreal is another business and touristic city that caters for a huge amount of tourists with enviable tourism potentials and amenities that helped to add more value to the sector and generate more income for the city.
 
Visiting the Montreal Cruise Port flamboyantly standing by the sea berth, sends an eye-catching feeling to know more by drawing closer to the Port. The delegation visited this world-class Cruise Port as AIDA cruise liner just arrived with almost 1,000 passengers aboard, with almost 500 passengers on orientation to embark on their journey to tour the work with two weeks.
The Cruise line business is rapidly Developing and there is every need for Sierra Leone to tsp in and be part of the business applying the right proceedings and following the international cruise lines regulations to attract this specialised niche for international cruise tourists.
 
With an informative presentation done by the Port Management, the team realised that indeed Sierra Leone could and should magnet this opportunity and polish it, the presentation served as an eye opener to place the delegation on firm footing to understand the Cruise business concept and operations, if at all Sierra Leone should tsp into it.
 
The Cruise meeting and dialogue with both teams unveiled clear opportunities for the delegation to see the sector as viably active to reach a new audience around the world of travelling and cruise lines.
 
During the meeting it was confirmed, that cruise business is the new face of tourism and every destination that has the ability and operation capacity and harbour strength must look at this and launch a robust and tactical approach to eat part of the cake and make a strong return as a nation.
 
The port management disclosed to the delegation that within two years 250 cruise ships will be built, and that gives new entrants like Sierra Leone a better edge as a new destination to present a case in attracting the business owners to come down to Africa but Sierra Leone.
 
The minister of Tourism and Culture in her brief but the detailed presentation made it clear to Montreal Port, that Sierra Leone has got it all to launch into the deep due to its vibrant tourism potentials that are yet to be untapped.
She further explained that all Sierra Leone is a genuine partnership, collaboration, mentorship for businesses of such nature are new and are operated uncoordinated. Therefore, the delegation seeks to support and capacity engagement to awaken this sleeping giant for tourism to reach its peak for a comprehensive tourism income generation.
 
The Minister during the presentation of the tourism promotional materials flipped over the pages of The Official Visitors guide, and showing Sierra Leone Tourism assets, the Montreal Port Manager affirmed, that what he is seeing is indeed what the cruise liners are looking for. Therefore he implored the delegation to look forward in proper and thorough deals in cruise ships.
 
Outcomes were many
1. To attend a world cruise trade fair in Miami America
2. To plan a meeting with cruise liners
3. Invite Montreal Cruise expert to Sierra Leone for first-hand research.
4. Encourage the private sector to invest in this sector
5. Bring onboard the interested tour operators to attend the cruise trade in Miami America
With an orientation tour done by the Montreal Port Management at the Lawrent River in Montreal Port. This tour with the delegation was to gain a clear and educational insight into the entire business and operations levels, to motivate and tease the minds of the team to do more. The guided tour lasted for almost 45minutes with lots of information given.
 
Stay connected as the team depart Montreal today to Toronto for more meetings and dialogues as design by GEI on the itinerary.
 
Submitted by,
Kai B. Saquee
Marketing/Publicist
NTB/ MTCA
CategoriesNews By Sierra Leone National Tourist Board

QUEBEC TOURISM UNIVERSITY RECEIVED SIERRA LEONE DELEGATION WITH GRAND PATRONAGE.

This trip is not a trade fair that normally runs with distribution and exhibition of tourism promotional materials but rather this time, it has taken a penetrative and smart approach of meeting the industry tactful and ideal professionals to change our storylines with their shared experience and coherent partnerships with a stronger and better but healthy leverage on our side as a nation.
 
Arriving at the most prestigious Tourism and Hospitality school in Quebec City Canada ITHQ, the Minister of Tourism and team was given a hospitality touch which assured her and her team that indeed ITHQ was ready for Business and close partnership.
A well-conducted tour was undertaken with the recruitment secretary of ITHQ, this tour was to look at the hospitality installation and modern equipment that have stood the test of time and serve high-end personalities from around the world.
 
From visible evidence, one could attest that indeed Sierra Leone needs to step up with the right training and presentation to vim the Tourism and Hospitality sector for a strong positioning in matching with or even outpass other destination in the sub-regions.
 
The pivot essence of this visit is harnessing a first-hand practical knowledge on how and where it is done when it comes to Tourism School Management, structure, Curriculum Development, placement of the right kitchen and culinary modifications when installations are considered for the case of Sierra Leone.
As the educational tour continues, the team realised that truly the trip worth the purpose, from the showcases done by ITHQ Management.
 
This University has a record of producing highly motivated and qualified students who are meeting the necessary requirements for the tourism sector in Quebec and the surrounding cities. Their students have displayed mastery of their arts in many competitions and have stood out strong.
 
It is against this background, the Minister and the Global Economic Institute thought it fit and wise to partner with such University that posses the technical know-how in what they are specialized to do.
 
The Minister engaged them in what she desired most from this strong University that could be transferred to Sierra Leone with partnership and absolute cooperation to help develop what Sierra Leone has.
Many issues were placed on the table for consideration by both parties but as usual, the Minister always wanted more leverage on her side.
 
On the menus the Minister placed her orders on these cuisines:
A healthy partnership among the institutions
Exchanges within professionals
Curriculum Development
Funding for the Tourism School project in Sierra Leone
Technical support and advice
 
The steps to follow to achieve these, the Director of ITHQ advised that one:
 
1. The two parties should establish and general MOU for a better understanding
2. Sierra Leone to extend an invitation of interest
3. Invitation to visit for fact-finding on the tourism School
4. Fully engage governments on both sides
5. Set a rendezvous with Canada Global Affairs with a straight forward proposal for funding and support in future.
The meeting ended with interviews with ATV International TV, keep viewing on local news or download your AYV app and keep informed.
 
Kai B Saquee
Marketing/Publicist
CategoriesNews By Sierra Leone National Tourist Board

SIERRA LEONE TOURISM DELEGATION ON A TOP-NOTCH TOURISM AND TRADE ROUND TABLE DISCUSSION WITH CANADIAN FOREIGN DEPARTMENT.

Just yesterday we spotted the other side of the Minister of Tourism and Culture, when concepts and theories pertaining trade, investment, tourism development, peace, youths and unemployment, human rights and a cohesive working environment, for foreign investment was given a thorough diagnosis by the able Minister of Tourism and Culture of Sierra Leone.

This top-notch Meeting was set by the Global Economic Institute (GEI) in the hearts of Ottawa city in the early mornings of Thursday 2019.

Upon reception, and after thorough security control, the newly appointed head of the Canadian Foreign Department made a profound statement and welcome note of assurance, were in he testified that the visit of the delegation is timely and considered to be very important. He further expressed that even though he is new in the job but will try to sail the boat well together with his colleagues, who will tap in to give professional guidance and formidable phase lift to the visit and pending discussions.

During his mirror introduction, he spotted many insights that he has identified as a unique selling point for Sierra Leone and that it’s heritage and other forms of tourism will definitely capture the ideal minds to visit for assorted reasons.

The Minister of Tourism took the platform and left the round table in answer-wonder especially the Canadian team. The Minister was able to speak the language of the people and that gave doubled edged over the panel, as she undoubtedly drops issues around many facets that need utmost attention which are:
Using Arts and Culture to stable the minds of the youths, entertainment be it film production, handy crafts, music, dance, clothing, training and exploration of new ideas will place her country on a different paradigm shift with a better and healthy option for development Indicators.

The Minister in her position was able to interconnect divers key problems in her country in one melting pot, this presentation stole the attention of the Canadian officials that she was given more time to finish her most sensitive point that will bring groundbreaking results.

In her conclusion, she made considerable action points on every area that has to do with Sierra Leone in general not only in Tourism and Culture but were she has identified as stifling problems. She said, “We as a nation need Canada to come in our situation with essential supports with attention given to the random issues mentioned above”.

Outcomes, one might be Keen on curiosity
to know the key outcomes of this top-notch meeting. However, the team members on the Sierra Leone delegation made an outstanding contribution to canoe and support the arguments of the Hon. Minister of Tourism and Culture.

Dr Walton E. Gilpin who is known for strategic discussion engaged the other side to increase and amplified their presence in Sierra Leone like with other countries around the globe. Dr Gilpin also looked at the average opportunities in the foreign Department on SME’s as these are the pillars of growth. He added that indeed Tourism development has a strong capital phase, so the mission should look at Canadian banks to collaborate with other Banks in Sierra Leone to beef up this sector and empower young people to take the course of trending development strides for better nation-building.

The Director of Culture- Mr Foday Jalloh who has vast knowledge in his areas coupled with others, did the missile analysis of the correlation between Tourism and Culture, therefore he implored the Canadian government to look into it and see ways how they can connect with Sierra Leone through heritage tourism.

The Canadian team was able to pass on their thoughts at a faster pace based on the various presentations, which helped them to draw up the conclusive decision with areas they think they can help.
Some of these areas are the areas they have helping and assured the team to dig out more opportunities for the country in:
Youth unemployment
Early marriage
Scholarship
Stronger bilateral ties

The day ended with a general tour of one of the main museum also served as resident of the Canadian Governor General.

Stay connect as we bring news from Canada on the Tourism and Investment Promotion 2019.

Submitted by
Kai B. Saquee
Marketing/ Publicist

CategoriesNews By Sierra Leone National Tourist Board

SIERRA LEONE TOURISM INVESTMENT AND PROMOTION IN CANADA-OTTAWA

Sierra Leone Tourism Minister takes another robust Tourism promotion and Investment approach to a new niche Canada. The Minister of Tourism and Culture Dr. Memunatu Pratt and her team her presently in Ottawa Canada. One may curious to ask why Canada? Canada is also another key tourist generating regions with a we managed tourism receipt and potentials that should be harnessed with a thorough partnership and cooperative approach.

The Delegation arrived safe and ready to fully engaged those who matters in society to press the right bottons to push the tourism machine for Sierra Leone.

Day one of the planned trip started with an established meetings and healthy discussions with major institutions that are key players in the Canada Tourism industry. One of these institutions was Parks Canada: Parks Canada is an institution that is specialty is park Management and mitigation. Canada has 46 natural parks that attracts over a billion tourists year from over the world.

The meeting with Parks Canada started with a general overview from The Minister of Tourism and Culture, who made a ground breaking presentation together with her team. During her presentation she made Parks Canada to understand that indeed we are here to learn, partner and have healthy cooperation in any form that will position Sierra Leone in a better footing in Tourism. She was assured to say that Sierra Leone is a safe Haven that is awaiting the right investments and healthy win- win partnerships especially for the tourism sector and even others in the country.

Parks Canada on the other hand, made a general expository of their successes and operations over the years, and reasons why they are called Parks Canada, as their contribution to national revenue generation is huge and they oversee 46 national parks that has huge returns on guest capacity and tourists receipt. These presentations was done by almost three experts in their filed of operations.

Just after the presentationns, the AG. General Manager-National Tourist Board Madam Fatmata Abe- Osagie in her statement focussed on the strategic approach in managing these parks and revenue generation and how these revenues are shared with the institutions and government related agencies. While Dr. Walton E. Gilpin closely watch the power of the SME’S in tourism promotion and development in Sierra Leone.

The minister also presented a case that indeed Sierra Leone needs heathier partnerships and support in training, investment and any other means that aid the sector to position well.

The head of the Parks Canada team assured the team that their doors are opened anytime to see from which angle they could if only the Global Economic Institute could make platform for Continuing collaboration as directed to Mr. Fergusson of GEI and Sherry.

This meeting ended with a general tour of the Ottawa Canal built in 1836 and spot view on the Bytowm museum and water ways.

The next meeting took us to the Algonquin tourism and Hospitality University, to understand the dynamics of Tourism training and modern equipment and tourism curriculum planning. This school has all it’s takes as a Tourism and hospitality school: a modern Amadeus Ticketing class room with update computers and a real booking system, a modern restaurant and culinary kitchen with recent equipment for students to have first hand service training and delivery. This was view by the team to see how it could be replicated to Sierra Leone.

These meetings were indeed essential for the delegation to understand best industry practices and first hand experience on the trend of tourism and related issues.

More days to go and more to see, learn and share as we set for today.

Submitted,
Kai B. Saquee

 

CategoriesNews By Sierra Leone National Tourist Board

MTCA and MRC accord national protection to Bai Bureh’s Grave in a Proclamation Ceremony

The Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs and the Monuments and Relics Commission have completed a Proclamation Ceremony recognizing the grave of the leader of the 1898 Uprising in Sierra Leone, Bai Bureh ‘Kebalai’ as a National Monument. As Mohamed Faray Kargbo reports, this development would change the face of tourism in Port Loko District.

The people of Mahera Village, Kasseh Chiefdom and its surrounding villages were the happiest on Thursday 13th June, 2019. They converged in their hundreds if not thousands to celebrate the recognition of the grave of their hero, Bai Bureh.

At the risk of sounding pompous, one might easily conclude that that was the biggest ceremony in content and context in the recent history of Mahera. The Paramount Chief of Kasseh Chiefdom, Bai Bureh Lugbu the Second gave a historical account of Bai Bureh where he noted that the Hut Tax was not the only reason for the 1898 Revolution.

Men, women and children, clad in their best attires, danced as if it was their last. Paramount and local Chiefs in their traditional regalia, performed ceremonies handed down from generations. The incantations could easily raise the dead. Happiness was spelt with capital letters in the faces of Government Officials.

Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Madam Memunatu Pratt while handing over the proclamation document to the Paramount Chief reaffirmed Government’s commitment to preserve Sierra Leone’s enviable cultural heritage.

She revealed that restoration/construction works will soon commence to improve the Site. When completed, the Site would greatly improve the outlook of Kasseh Chiefdom as it would be a hub for heritage tourism in Sierra Leone.

Some cultural practices associated with a visit to Bai Bureh’s Graveside were adapted to enhance visitor access.

Monument and Relics Commission, Chairman, Charlie Haffner not only asked the community to safeguard the heritage site but also assured that his Commission would proclaim more monuments.

Chaired by the Deputy Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, William IK Robinson, statements were made by the Resident Minister, North-West, a member of Bai Bureh’s family, a member of the Parliamentary Oversight Committee on Tourism and others.

Education and Outreach Unit
Monuments and Relics Commission
23 Pultney Street
info@mrcsl.org
www.mrcsl.org