By B. Linus Flomo
Swan Hellenic Vega, a British Cruise Line, with 115 tourists on board, docks at the Freeport of Monrovia early Monday morning giving a significant boost to Liberia’s new tourism industry.
Swan Hellenic Vega is a 5-star elegant Scandi-design boutique ship serving 152 guests; known as SH Vega, it has mostly balconies and public areas designed to take in all the sights on voyage.
Swan Hellenic Vega offers a variety of cruises to the Arctic Circle, the coast of Brazil and of course, Antarctica. Explore both poles or explore the majestic rainforests of South America.
It is the first time since 2012 when the National Geographic Explorer Cruise Ship came to postwar Liberia.
The National Tourism Association (LINTA) headed by May Bright Urey, the main umbrella group of private sector tourism stakeholders in Liberia organized SH Vega’s travel to Monrovia.
Minister of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism, Jerolinmek Piah, welcomed SH Vega on behalf of the Government of Liberia.
The Mayor of Monrovia, John Charuk Siafa, customarily presented the key of Monrovia to the tourists.
Minister Piah said the coming of the cruise ship amplified President Joseph Boakai vision to have a viable tourism industry as part of the Government of Liberia ARREST Agenda for sustainable development.
Minister Piah further mentioned that Liberia has huge potentials for amazing eco, adventure, wildlife; costal and marine tourism that will be unlocked through private sector participation.
SH Vega Cruise tourists will also be visiting historical sites in Monrovia to include, Providence Island, Providence Baptist Church, Ducor Hill, and the National Museum, Unity Park among others and Marshall Libassa Ecolodge.
