By Martin Blayon, Contributing Writer
Liberia has vast tourism potentials, including incredible ecotourism resources, but it is largely not being tapped.
Last equalizer and forgotten diamond for the benefit of this article refers to tourism, which is one of the fastest drivers of trade, prosperity and job opportunities around the World.
“Tourism is traveled for business or pressure. It can be done locally and internationally,” according to tourism experts.
In Africa, Liberia is not even featured in the World Tourism Organization among the top ranking countries, while Senegal in West Africa ranks among the top ten countries, despite our golden beaches and rich ecotourism resources.
According to the World Tourism Organization of the United Nations: In 2015, there were over 53 million international tourist arrivals to Africa, a decrease of 3% from 2014.[1] In 2015, the top ten African destinations were:[5]
| Rank | Destination | International tourist arrivals (2015)[4] |
International tourist arrivals (2014)[6] |
Change (2014 to 2015) (%) |
Change (2013 to 2014) (%) |
| 1 | Morocco | 10.2 million | 10.0 million | 9.4 | 7.2 |
| 2 | South Africa | 9.2 million | 9.1 million | 0.1 | 3.8 |
| 3 | Tunisia | 6.0 million | 6.2 million | 3.2 | 5.3 |
| 4 | Algeria | — | 2.7 million | — | 3.7 |
| 5 | Mozambique | — | 1.8 million | — | 10.7 |
| 6 | Zimbabwe | 1.8 million | 1.8 million | 2.6 | 2.1 |
| 7 | Kenya | — | 1.4 million | — | 11.5 |
| 8 | Uganda | — | 1.2 million | — | 0.8 |
| 9 | Namibia | — | 1.1 million | — | 9.0 |
| 10 | Senegal | — | 1.0 million | — | 10.5 |
| Note: Egypt is classified under “Middle East” in UNWTO’s scheme.[7] | |||||
Tourism is the business of attracting, accommodating, entertaining tourists, and also the business of operating tours which points at staying in places outside your usual environment for purposes such as leisure and business.
Arguably, this income-generation industry has not been fully prioritized by the immediate past President, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf and her lieutenants due to undisclosed reasons.
Other countries in Africa have the Ministry or Agency of Tourism and Culture, but Liberia has joined three important issues together (Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs, and Tourism-MICAT).
This approach has sparked mixed views regarding the retrogression of Liberia’s tourism sector, because only information is prioritized by the government at the detriment of tourism and culture, which should be reconsidered by the CDC-led government of President George Weah.
However, the inaugural speech which President Weah stressed the importance of tourism development by his government has sent another message across that this sector(Tourism) needs practical action, rather than “too much talking” by state actors.
Indeed, this is one of the major problems about the backwardness of the sector in Liberia.
According to research conducted, the Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf led government also made a commitment to improving Liberia’s Tourism sector, but it was not fully implemented as promised by the former Liberian leader.
But the ignoring of this profitable sector (Tourism) by past Liberian governments, which can generate sufficient lawful revenues or money for our government and others when prioritized cannot be overstated.
Against that background, Liberia’s rich culture and territorial confines which tourism welcomes because it has interesting stories, which need to be told to non-Liberians and others who are interested in seeking new ventures or destinations like Liberia for business or pressure cannot be overemphasized in reducing the high level of unemployment in Liberia.
Our country (Liberia) which has stories ranging from the arrival of the freed black slaves in 1822 on the Providence Island, now located in Monrovia or Montserrado County which is “not fully utilized for commercial and historical purposes.
Additionally, the Masonic Lodge, one of the oldest buildings located on Benson Street, Monrovia, Providence Baptist Church, the cornerstone of the Liberia where the decoration of independence was signed on July 26, 1847, Harper City, Maryland County freed slaves arrived there from Baltimore, Maryland County, United States of America in the 1800s.
Other areas are: Ashum Street where Liberia’s first President, Joseph Jenkins Roberts house he used to live still exist, First United Methodist Church, Centennial Memorial Pavilion, E. J. Royes’ building, one of the oldest buildings in Liberia which is allegedly owned now by the True Whig Party which ruled Liberia for years, all located on Ashmum Street.
On the other hand, other touristic areas are: the National Port Authority (NPA) located on the Somalia Drive, where Madam Celia C. Brown serves as Deputy Managing Director for Administration, University of Liberia Capitol Bypass campus.
Others include Liberia’s current Executive Mansion, the Capitol and Judiciary buildings can be marketed to the outside World, so as to attract tourists who can expressed interest in those areas which could have serious economic benefits on our country’s struggling economy.
Furthermore, Liberia’s tourism sector has been described as “forgotten diamond and last equalizer” because it has rich potential which can generate sufficient lawful revenues when it is rebranded and properly marketed to attract tourists or investors.
Arguably, Liberia has natural and historical areas that can urgently attract tourists or investors, but nationalistic or practical steps need to be taken by the Weah’s led government which is tourist-friendly.
President Weah’s name can serve as a major point for tourists in Africa and other parts of the World who can be interested to come to Liberia, because he has made numerous marks mainly in football.
But the winning of the Liberian Presidency by him is a good attraction to promote tourism in our country.
In a related development, tourists can also be attracted by President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf’s name who served as the first female President in Africa.
Chief Jewel Howard Taylor who has history from the First lady of the Republic of Liberia to Senator of Bong County, from Senator to first female Vice President can also attract tourists to Liberia who could be interested in her history and the rich and people-driven culture of Liberia.
Finally, unlike Liberia that has natural and rich tourism potential, other countries in Africa and other parts of the World that do not have natural touristic attractions.
But their tourism areas have been artificially beautified, thus creating jobs and generating sufficient money for them.
Indeed, the forgotten diamond and last equalizer need to be prioritized from a practical perspective by the Weah’s led government.
The Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) headed by Elfreda S. Tamba and the Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs, and Tourism and others have a serious role to play in realizing the dream of tourism development in Liberia.