Liberia Holds One-Day Inaugural Tourism Workshop

By Bill W. Cooper
The government of Liberia through the Ministry of Information, Culture Affairs and Tourism (MICAT) and the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MOC) in collaboration with the International Trade Centre (ICT) has embarked on a one-day Inaugural Tourism workshop of the Liberia Tourism Working Group in developing the country’s tourism sector.
The one-day workshop yesterday, December 3, 2019 at the Boulevard Palace Hotel in Monrovia is intended for stakeholders to deliberate on the terms of reference and a two-year working plan of the country’s Tourism working group and to officially announce the establishment of the working group.
The workshop is also organized within the framework of implementing the Liberia Tourism project, which aims at developing the tourism sector with a focus on surfing and destinations.
The Liberia Tourism Project is implemented by the ITC in partnership with MOCI, MICAT and the UN World Tourism Organization and is funded by the enhanced Integrated Framework Program that has an implementation period of two years in January 2021 as the total cost is US$O.5 million.
Speaking at the opening of the workshop, MOCI Deputy Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry, A.E Nyema Wisner, stated that the workshop is geared towards enhancing the country’s tourism program in the country in connection with the MICAT, while at the same time embraced all the stakeholders who have put their interest in making sure that the country becomes another country of tourism. He said that the tourism project will be able to attract more tourists and generate funds for the country as well.
Earlier, the Deputy Minister for Cultural Affairs and Tourism at MICAT, Lance K. Gbagonyon noted that the intent of the workshop is to discuss the internal reference of the technical group or tourism working group as well as to also discuss their annual work plan and to briefly look at the tourism development project that is being funded by ITC through the integrated frame work office at the MOC.
He said that the project is the government of Liberia’s initiative with partnership from ITC and WTO and involves all lines ministries and agencies that have things to do with tourism, emphasizing that the project is intended to develop a multi-purpose self-facility at Robertsport, to also create a reception booth at Japanese Island, a tourism desk at the Robert international Airport and do some reservation work at the Providence Island.
“As for the management and sustainability of the project, the LINTA and the private sector will play a vital role after the project shall have been completed,” the MICAT Deputy boss averred.