By Mackie M. Jalloh
The newly elected Secretary-General of UN Tourism, Shaikha Alnuwais, has pledged strong institutional support for the growth and transformation of Sierra Leone’s tourism sector following a high-level meeting with President Julius Maada Bio on the sidelines of the World Governments Summit in Dubai.
Shaikha Alnuwais, who recently made history as the first woman to assume the position of Secretary-General of UN Tourism, described the engagement with President Bio as productive and forward-looking. The meeting focused on how UN Tourism can partner with Sierra Leone to unlock the country’s vast but underdeveloped tourism potential, while ensuring sustainability, inclusiveness, and long-term economic impact.
During the discussions, the UN Tourism chief outlined five strategic priorities that will guide her tenure and shape future collaborations with member states. These include promoting sustainable and responsible tourism growth, advancing digital transformation and data-driven decision-making in tourism planning, fostering economic inclusion through local empowerment, strengthening infrastructure and connectivity as tourism enablers, and reinforcing governance, transparency, and global trust in the tourism sector.
Shaikha Alnuwais emphasized that Sierra Leone is well positioned to benefit from these strategic pillars, noting the country’s rich natural attractions, cultural heritage, pristine beaches, and growing international profile. She expressed confidence that, with the right policy frameworks, technical support, and global partnerships, tourism could become a significant driver of economic diversification, job creation, and community development in Sierra Leone.
She further assured President Bio of her personal commitment to working closely with the Government of Sierra Leone to translate policies into practical outcomes that directly benefit local communities. According to her, tourism must not only attract visitors but also empower citizens, support small and medium-sized enterprises, and preserve cultural and environmental assets for future generations.
As part of the engagement, Shaikha Alnuwais briefed President Bio on her recent discussions with Sierra Leone’s Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Madam Nabeela F. Tunis. She commended the Minister for what she described as a clear vision and determined leadership in repositioning Sierra Leone’s tourism sector. The UN Tourism Secretary-General noted that Minister Tunis’ reform-driven approach aligns closely with UN Tourism’s global agenda for inclusive and sustainable tourism development.
President Julius Maada Bio congratulated Shaikha Alnuwais on her election and welcomed her commitment to supporting Sierra Leone. He underscored the importance of tourism as a strategic sector within his government’s broader development agenda, particularly in terms of youth employment, private sector growth, and international engagement.
The President also highlighted the strong bilateral relationship between Sierra Leone and the United Arab Emirates, noting that these longstanding ties played a significant role in supporting Shaikha Alnuwais’ successful candidacy. He described the UAE as a valued partner and expressed optimism that deeper cooperation through multilateral platforms such as UN Tourism would yield tangible benefits for Sierra Leone.
Acknowledging both the opportunities and persistent challenges within the tourism sector, President Bio stressed that enhanced collaboration with UN Tourism would be critical in addressing issues such as infrastructure gaps, capacity building, marketing, and investment promotion. He praised Minister Nabeela F. Tunis for what he termed “remarkable progress” achieved under her leadership, including policy reforms and renewed international engagement, and reaffirmed his administration’s full support for her work.
President Bio further assured the UN Tourism Secretary-General of Sierra Leone’s commitment to supporting her leadership and priorities throughout her tenure. He reiterated his personal resolve to accelerate tourism sector development as part of the government’s long-term vision for sustainable economic growth.
Concluding the meeting, Shaikha Alnuwais expressed her intention to visit Sierra Leone in the near future to gain first-hand insight into the country’s tourism assets and to deepen engagement with government officials, private sector stakeholders, and local communities.
The meeting marks a significant step in strengthening cooperation between Sierra Leone and UN Tourism, raising expectations for renewed momentum in positioning the country as an emerging tourism destination in West Africa.
