By Foday Moriba Conteh

As part of their efforts toward enhancing travel opportunities between Sierra Leone and India, attracting investments in Sierra Leone’s hospitality industry and exploring avenues for sustainable tourism development between both countries, the High Commission of India in Freetown on Thursday, 25th March 2025, concluded a one-day dialogue on Travel & Tourism between the High Commission of India, tour and travel agencies in Sierra Leone to promote bilateral tourism and the hospitality sector.

The dialogue, which brought together key stakeholders, including representatives from the tourism industry, potential investors and media personnel, fostering discussions on the sector’s growth prospects in both India and Sierra Leone, was held at Lagoonda Hotel on Aberdeen in Freetown.

In his presentation, India’s High Commissioner to Sierra Leone, Shri Baisnab Charan Pradhan, underscored the tourism sector’s role in employment generation and economic expansion.

“Tourism is one of the most labor-intensive industries, creating employment opportunities in hotels, restaurants, transport services and cultural attractions,” Shri Pradhan stated. “Both India and Sierra Leone stand to benefit significantly from stronger ties in this sector.”

Discussions, during the event, revolved around several strategic areas, including strengthening bilateral travel links, attracting investment in Sierra Leone’s tourism infrastructure, fostering joint ventures in hospitality and eco-tourism, and facilitating knowledge-sharing to improve service quality in the industry.

Representatives from Invest India, the country’s national investment promotion agency, highlighted opportunities for foreign investors in India’s thriving hospitality sector. Key areas for foreign participation include acquiring existing hotels with advisory support for due diligence, developing new tourism infrastructure projects through greenfield investments, forming public-private partnerships (PPPs) with the Indian Government to modernize the tourism ecosystem and establishing franchise agreements and management contracts to connect Indian hotel owners with global operators.

Sierra Leone, with its pristine beaches, rich cultural heritage and unexplored eco-tourism sites, has the potential to become a top travel destination in West Africa. However, stakeholders emphasized that investment in infrastructure, hospitality services and marketing strategies is critical to attracting international tourists.

As part of the forum, India’s Mizoram state was presented as a case study in sustainable tourism development, providing insights into how Sierra Leone can leverage its natural and cultural assets for growth in the sector.

The High Commission of India announced plans to hold further targeted sessions with major investors, policymakers and tourism stakeholders to develop concrete action plans for advancing cooperation in the industry.

“The goal is not just to have discussions but to create real business opportunities that will strengthen both nations’ economies through tourism,” said Neeraj Kumar Saini, Head of Chancery at the High Commission.

With growing interest from Indian businesses and a strong commitment from the Sierra Leonean travel sector, this collaboration is expected to open new economic opportunities and position Sierra Leone as a competitive player in the global tourism industry. https://thecalabashnewspaper.com/indian-high-commission-hosts-tourism-dialogue-with-travel-agencies-in-sierra-leone/