By Isatu Gbla, Freetown.
A four man tour operator delegation from Canada accompanied by the Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs Hindolo Trye(photo) this week paid a courtesy call on president Ernest Bai Koroma at State House.
The delegation comprised of the President and Chief Executive Officer of Airliners J R Arora, the Vice President Nina Arora and Audrey Walter (Manager, Business Development)and the Vice President-Ontario of the Canadian Council on Africa, Nola Kianza.
They were also accompanied by the General Manager of Kimbima Hotel Tamba Allieu Kokobaye, the General Manager of the National Tourist Board of Sierra Leone Cecil Williams and Abrahim J Turay, the Classification and Quality Control Officer.
Minister Trye told President Koroma that the delegation are professional tour operators from Canada and that they are in Sierra Leone to build a solid foundation for the growth of tourism in the country. He said the country is rich in natural beauty and that the tourism industry eagerly awaits its rapid exploitation.
MR. Allieu Kokobaye who is also the Chairman of Hotel Catering and Entertainment Employers Federation, said his organization has decided to join hands with government to promote tourism, thus the invitation of Airliners to Sierra Leone. He added that such an invitation will no doubt expose the country to international tour operators, as there is a huge market in North America.
‘Tourism has many opportunities among which are the capacity to create jobs for especially the youths," he observed.
MR. Cecil Williams said this type of visit is referred to as a familiarization visit aimed at giving the opportunity to travel agents and tour operators, writers and journalists to have an objective on the spot assessment in order to get an in depth knowledge of the country’s resources.
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