The newly appointed Secretary-General of UN Tourism, Shaikha Alnuwais, met Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio on Tuesday and pledged support for the development of the country’s tourism sector, officials said.
Alnuwais, the first woman to hold the post, held talks with Bio on the sidelines of the World Governments Summit in Dubai, where the two discussed cooperation aimed at unlocking Sierra Leone’s tourism potential.
During the meeting, Alnuwais outlined her strategic priorities for UN Tourism, including sustainable growth, digital transformation, economic inclusion, infrastructure development and improved governance within the global tourism industry.
She said Sierra Leone had significant untapped potential in tourism and expressed readiness to work closely with the government to support sector growth, according to a statement from State House.
Alnuwais also briefed the president on her recent engagement with Sierra Leone’s Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Nabeela F. Tunis, praising what she described as the minister’s forward-looking approach to developing the sector.
President Bio congratulated Alnuwais on her election and highlighted strong bilateral relations between Sierra Leone and the United Arab Emirates, which he said were instrumental in supporting her candidacy.
He said closer cooperation between UN Tourism and Sierra Leone would be key to addressing challenges in the sector, while commending Minister Tunis for progress made under her leadership. Bio reaffirmed his government’s commitment to accelerating tourism development and pledged full support for Alnuwais during her tenure.
The UN Tourism chief said she intends to visit Sierra Leone in the near future.
By Osman Kamara
