By Abubakarr Harding
At the Akwaaba African Travel Market held in Lagos, Nigeria on the 31st October, 2022 the Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Dr. Memunatu Pratt, officially received an award as the best West Africa Tourism Minister, which she dedicated to President Bio, the tourism industry and the people of Sierra Leone.
The Prestigious award was in recognition of Dr. Pratt’s laudable strides in the improvement of tourism and the rebranding of Sierra Leone’s image. She was recently appointed by UNWTO to chair the global platform for women in tourism, a milestone that epitomized international confidence in her leadership.
The Minister, accompanied by the General Manager, Fatmata Hamid Carew and the Marketing Manager, Lucinda Kargbo both from the National Tourist Board (NTB) are in Nigeria to attend this year’s Akwaaba African Travel Market where the Minister, Dr. Pratt was expected to officially receive the award for West Africa Best Tourism Minister having been announced as the winner of the prestigious award.
Prior to receiving the award, Dr. Pratt told selected aviation newsmen at Akwaaba fun and welcome party at Wave Beach, Elegushi area, Lekki, that marketing the tourism sites in West Africa will help to create awareness for tourists to visit and explore the West African destination. She called for an integrated marketing approach to leverage on the opportunities and also yield desired results in the region’s effort to same. She emphasized on regional connectivity and capacity building of sector worker as key enablers for the sector to achieve its fullest potentials. She disclosed that Sierra Leone will for the second time play host to the Budapest-Bamako Freetown Rally commencing 6th October, 2022.
