Beneficiaries and students of One Love Salone Foundation recently attended the Global Tourism Resilience Day commemoration, held at the Tunde Cole Building, Fourah Bay College (FBC) in Freetown on February 17, 2026.
The event, organized by the Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, brought together students and stakeholders in the tourism sector to discuss resilience strategies for the industry.
The program featured panel discussions, a student debate, and a drama performance, all cantered around the theme of tourism resilience, “Tourism Resilience in Action: From Crisis Response to Impactful Transformation”.
Our beneficiaries and students actively participated in the event, with some taking part in the questions and answers session of the panel discussion.
In her keynote address, the Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Md. Nabeela Tunis, called for collective action to transform the tourism sector of the country.
She encouraged students and stakeholders to participate in creative and innovative initiatives that will transform outbreaks into opportunities in the sector, which she believes the tourism sector sits at the intersection of all other sectors of development.
The Minister emphasized that tourism connects agriculture to hospitality, connects conservation to community income, connects digital innovation to global visibility, and connects Sierra Leone’s painful history to a powerful narrative of freedom and transformation.
She stated that creativity shouldn’t just be a hobby but a driver of growth, adding that “Our music, our dance, our culture, our storytelling, and museums are all assets that we are proud of.”
She noted that these assets, when utilized, can sustainably attract visitors, create jobs, empower women, engage young people, and strengthen communities.
Hon. Tunis emphasized that the 2026 celebration focuses on youth-led tourism resilience and development, underscoring the role of young people in shaping the future of global travel and cultural cooperation.
The Minister admonished participants to spread the message, as indicated in the inscription on the program video, “I am a young voice for tourism resilience,” echoing the sentiments of our youth, who are eager to contribute to the development of Sierra Leone’s tourism sector.
The youth aren’t just the leaders of tomorrow but serve as partners in today’s development process
The Minister added that in the tourism industry, there is no discrimination, and every person has a productive role in Sierra Leone’s tourism development sector. She emphasized that everyone has a God-given talent waiting to be discovered, nurtured, and amplified productively.
The Minister also highlighted that the United Nations General Assembly has declared 2027 as the International Year of Sustainable and Resilient Tourism, and countries are encouraged to promote tourism as a driver of development, inclusive growth, environmental protection, and social empowerment.
She said the youth aren’t just the leaders of tomorrow but serve as partners in today’s development process. She encouraged the youthful population to work hard in the transformation of the country’s tourism infrastructures. She concluded with the powerful campaign slogan by the Ministry stating that “Tourism Bizness Na All Man Bizness”
Attendance was strictly monitored and will play a crucial role in determining subsequent sponsorship opportunities for our beneficiaries and students. We are proud of their participation and look forward to seeing their continued growth and involvement in promoting tourism resilience in Sierra Leone.
At One Love Salone Foundation, we believe in empowering young people to become agents of change, and events like Global Tourism Resilience Day provide the perfect platform for them to develop new skills and networks.
The One Love Salone Foundation thanks the Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs for being a strong partner over the years and looks forward to continued collaboration in promoting tourism development in Sierra Leone.
