*MTCA Launches Northern Version of Tourism for All Campaign

Coordinated by the division of Culture, Creativity and Innovation of the Ministry, the launch went simultaneously with the Salone Festival, a cultural showpiece event that showcased performances from diverse cultural groups in the Northern Region for audition into the National Dance Troupe. The event also attracted Regional and partner stakeholders in the north. It could be recalled that the inaugural launch of the Tourism for All Campaign (TFA) was held in Bo during the “Gate to Freedom and Liberation” month of April.

Opening the session, Permanent Secretary, Edward Kwame Yankson extended greetings and appreciations to the audience on Minister Tunis behalf, he intimated that the TFA campaign including the display of cultural performances aimed to showcase domestic tourism by appreciating the rich cultural assets the country possessed.

Explaining the background of the campaign, Director of Culture, Creativity and Innovation, Foday Jalloh emphasized that Sierra Leone’s economy will blossom with robust marketing of it culture and heritage. He mentioned that the launch of the campaign in the North epitomized the Ministry’s resolve to bringing tourism to the door steps of the people, adding that the occasion was also to teach the Sierra Leonean culture and instilled cultural tendencies to especially the young folks.

Launching the Tourism for All Campaign in the Northern Region, the Resident Minister North, Abu Abu Koroma on behalf of the Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Nabeela Tunis thanked President Julius Maada Bio for providing the enabling environment for the Ministry to cascade the tourism and cultural agenda to the provinces. He furthered that culture plays a pivotal role in uniting people, hence it was imperative to give it the required attention in order to drive development. Minister Abu Abu Koroma together with all the Northern Region stakeholders in attendance launched the campaign on the note that, “with tourism, we will unite and develop Sierra Leone”.

Procession and performances of different cultural groups, including performances from acrobats and other talented acts climaxed the event.