Freetown, Sierra Leone, 29 to 31 October 2024…
In contributing to address systemic barriers and harness the full potential of women who make up majority of the tourism and hospitality workforce in Africa, a three-day Women in Tourism Regional
Congress will be hosted by the Republic of Sierra Leone in collaboration with UN Tourism from 29 to 31 October, 2024.
This event aims to advance, beyond empowerment by equipping women in tourism with the requisite access needed, actionable insights, multi-faceted support, and equitable opportunities. Key priorities include enhancing mentorship, educational, and training initiatives, fostering technological innovation, and improving access to financial resources to facilitate women’s advancement into positions of leadership and influence.
Who Should Attend? The event will bring together exceptional women who have championed the Industry in their various countries, travel world, tourism, and hospitality world:
Beyond Empowerment to Education, Innovation and Finance Access This conference isn’t just about business – it’s about embracing our vulnerabilities, sharing our stories, and rallying for an open-minded and open-hearted future for our industry. With a focus on “Beyond Empowerment to Education, Innovation and Finance Access”. Event attendees will discuss tools and strategies to thoughtfully and proactively create authentic, motivating spaces that benefit both personal and professional lives.
Venue: The Freetown International Conference Centre
14:00 – 18:00 – Registration
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| 08:00 – 09:00 | Registration |
| 09:00 – 10:30 | Opening Remarks: – Her Worship Yvonne Aki Sawyerr, Mayor of Freetown, Sierra Leone – Ms. Elcia Grandcourt, Director for Africa, UN Tourism – Ms. Natalia Bayona, Executive Director, UN Tourism (video message) – H.E. Omar Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission – Ms. Seraphine Wakana, UN Resident Coordinator, Sierra Leone – Hon. Nabeela Farida Tunis, Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs of the Republic of Sierra Leone, and Chair of the Women in Tourism Leadership Africa Committee (WITLAC) – Keynote Address: H.E the President, Rtd. Brig. Julius Maada Bio, Republic of Sierra Leone UN Tourism Scholarships Official Photo Tour around the exhibition for high-level representatives. |
| 10:30 – 10:45 | Coffee Break |
| 10:45 – 11:00 | Guest Speaker: Breaking barriers and paving pathways: Women transforming the future of African tourism. Ms. Jéromine Setcheme Mongbo, Head of Office, UN Women Sierra Leone |
| 11:00 – 12:30 | High-Level Panel Discussion – “Advocacy strategies and actionable steps for creating an enabling environment for women in tourism through gender-responsive policies.” Moderator: Ms. Elcia Grandcourt, Director for Africa, UN Tourism Speakers: – Hon. Nabeela Farida Tunis, Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs of the Republic of Sierra Leone – Hon. Barbara Rwodzi (MP), Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Republic of Zimbabwe – Mr. Abdel-Nasser Daoud KINEFOUR, Senior Program Officer, AUDA-NEPAD – Dr. Tony Luka ELUMELU, Director Private Sector, ECOWAS – Ms. Mai Bright Urey, President, Liberia National Tourism Association (LINTA) – Ms. Isatu Thorlu Bangura, Posseh’s Hotel Catering and Training Centre, Sierra Leone |
| 12:30 – 14:00 | Networking Lunch (all participants) |
| 14:00 – 14:30 | Fireside Chat: Personal Journey of a Woman Leader in Tourism overcoming gender disparities and structural barriers. In conversation with… Moderator: Mr. Kojo Bentum-Williams, Senior Expert on Communications in Africa, UN Tourism – Hon. Barbara Rwodzi (MP), Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Republic of Zimbabwe |
| 14:30 – 15:30 | Gender Responsive Policies and Initiatives – Case Study Presentations from across Africa Moderator: Ms. Lydia Bebe Kum, Programme Officer Africa Department, UN Tourism – Hon. Dr. Isata Mahoi, Minister of Gender and Children’s Affairs, Republic of Sierra Leone – Mr. Mustapha OUABBAS, Tourism Senior Policy Officer, African Union Commission |
| 15:30 – 16:00 | Key takeaways from Day 1 – Ms. Binta Akibo-Betts, Managing Director, Betts Firm Consult, Sierra Leone – Ms. Lydia Bebe Kum, Programme Officer Africa Department, UN Tourism N.B.: Permanent exhibitions by women from Sierra Leone, neighbouring countries, and across Africa, will be accessible to the delegates throughout the duration of the event. |
| 19:30 – 21:30 | Welcome Reception and Networking (all participants) Venue: Lagoonda |
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| 07:00 – 08:00 | Optional: Morning walk along the Lumley Beach Breathe in the fresh morning air, enjoy the peaceful ambiance, connect with fellow participants, and get a glimpse of Freetown’s early morning charm before diving into the day’s conference activities. |
| MENTORSHIP, EDUCATION, AND TRAINING | |
| 09:00 – 09:15 | Setting the scene. Effective leadership training and business skills development for women in tourism, cultural, and creative industries.Ms. Mary-Ann Kaikai, Founder and Creative Director of Madam Wokie, Sierra Leone |
| 09:15 – 10:45 | Panel Discussion – “Building a strong foundation and bridging the skills gap: The power of mentorship and education in advancing women’s careers in tourism.” Moderator: Ms. Ariana Oluwole, Founder and Publisher at Ariana Diaries Blog, Founder at Narnia Educational Group Speakers: – Dr. Fatou Taqi, Director of the Academic and Careers Advisory and Counselling Services, University of Sierra Leone – Ms. Anne Kaoma-Sibanda, Executive Director, Zambia Institute of Tourism & Hospitality Studies (ZITHS), Zambia – Ms. Stella Christiane DRABO, Tourism Manager, CEO Orchideo Consulting – Ms. Fatmata Binta, Chef and UN Tourism Ambassador for Responsible Tourism, Sierra Leone – Ms. Nellie Swart, Associate Professor in Tourism Management, Department of Applied Management, University of South Africa – Mr. Matthew Lambert, CEO, Invictus Education Group, South Africa (video message) |
| INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY | |
| 10:45 – 11:15 | Fireside Chat: Innovative journey to success – Integrating new technologies and digital tools for women-led tourism business enhancement. In conversation with… Moderator: Mr. Kojo Bentum-Williams, Senior Expert on Communications in Africa, UN Tourism – Ms. Isatu Harrison, Creative Director, Creative Hub Africa, Sierra Leone |
| 11:15 – 13:00 | Panel Discussion – “Leveraging digital transformation in tourism: Opportunities for women entrepreneurs.” Moderator: Ms. Gemma Mathshediso Mbegabolawe, Principal Officer – Women and Youth in Trade, African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Speakers: – Hon. Salima Bah, Minister of Communication, Technology and Innovation, Republic of Sierra Leone – Hon. Heather Sibungo, Deputy Minister for Environment, Forestry and Tourism, Republic of Namibia – Hon. Kadiatu D. Konteh-Brohiri, Deputy Minister for Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism, Republic of Liberia – Ms. Pamla Gopaul, Unit Lead for Economic Analysis and Foresight, AUDA-NEPAD – Ms. Cecile Marie-France Sombo-Dibele, Founder at TamTam-Guide, Tourism Expert at the Office of the Minister of Tourism, Democratic Republic of Congo – Dr. Sia Foday-Iscandari, Deputy Team Leader, Invest Salone, Sierra Leone |
| 13:00 – 14:30 | Networking Lunch (all participants) |
| 14:30 – 15:00 | Recommendations and Outcomes from the Workshop on Finance Access – Ms. Mbali Mngomezulu, Business Development Manager, Mastercard Africa Presentation on Women Banking Initiative (10 minutes) – Ms. Nassau Fofanah, Founder and CEO, Susue Women’s Finance/Women’s Green Bank, Sierra Leone Presentation of workshop certificates – Ms. Elcia Grandcourt, Director for Africa, UN Tourism – Hon. Nabeela Farida Tunis, Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs of the Republic of Sierra Leone and Chair of the Women in Tourism Leadership Africa Committee (WITLAC) Official photo with Technical Workshop participants |
| 15:00 – 15:30 | Key takeaways from Day 2 – Ms. Binta Akibo-Betts, Managing Director, Betts Firm Consult, Sierra Leone – Ms. Rachel Monnier, Senior Project Specialist Africa Department, UN Tourism |
| 15:30 – 16:00 | Closing Ceremony Closing Remarks: – Ms. Elcia Grandcourt, Director for Africa, UN Tourism – Hon. Nabeela Farida Tunis, Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs of the Republic of Sierra Leone and Chair of the Women in Tourism Leadership Africa Committee (WITLAC) N.B.: Permanent exhibitions by women from Sierra Leone, neighbouring countries, and across Africa, will be accessible to the delegates throughout the duration of the event. |
| 19:30 – 21:30 | Dinner incl. live concert featuring prominent women musicians and entertainers (all participants) Venue: LOR Restaurant, Levuma Beach |
| Time | Programme |
|---|---|
09:00 – 16:00 2-3h excursions | Social Programme (all participants) Option 1: A Day in the Life of Local Women Artists Option 2: City Tour Option 3: Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary Tour |
| 16:00 – 00:00 | Open-air carnival with performances Venue: Gigibonta Car Park |
Time Slot
Session Type
Room / Location
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Audience
The Women in Tourism Regional Congress will be held at the Freetown International Conference Center, Freetown, Sierra Leone.
The online registration for the forum is open and is available through the following link:
https://tourism.gov.sl/women-in-tourism-regional-congress
Participants are requested to complete the registration form, available on the link above by latest 12 September 2024.
At the venue of the Women in Tourism Regional Congress, badges will be issued at the time of registration. A registration and information desk will be open one day before the start of the Forum at the venue of the event.
• 28 October 2024:
15:00hrs – 17:00hrs
• 29 October 2024:
09:00hrs – 17:00hrs
• 30 October 2024:
09:00hrs – 17:00hrs
• 31 October 2024:
08:00hrs – 12:00hrs
Accreditation and collection of badges will take place at the event venue. Delegates are requested to register online before arriving at the venue for accreditation.
Please note that you will have to set up a QR code for attendance which can be displayed on the websites and being downloaded or copied in a sheet for the entrance gate.
A valid passport is required for all international visitors to Sierra Leone. Entry visas may be obtained at Sierra Leone diplomatic missions and consular representations abroad or at the Freetown International Airport, Lungi.
Based on the law of the country, visa exemption is in place for passport holders from specific African countries. For countries which are not exempted, kindly follow the link: Visa on Arrival - Sierra Leone Immigration Department (slid.gov.sl)
A Courtesy Visa will be issued on arrival upon presentation of an invitation letter from the Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Sierra Leone and UN Tourism for holders of Diplomatic, Service and UN Passports. However, participants are strongly advised to send the following details, at their earliest convenience:
• Full names of the traveller
• Valid passport number and nationality
• Scanned copy of the biodata page of the passport Date of arrival
To the attention of:
Mr. Edward Kwame Yankson
Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs
E-mail: kwameyankson@gmail.com
Tel.: +232 79 299 977
Mr. Sahr Philip Morsay
Deputy Secretary, Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs
E-mail: sahrdain@yahoo.co.uk
Tel: +23276 810 711
A reception and information desk will be opened for delegates at Freetown International Airport, Lungi, one day prior to the date of the event to welcome and assist participants and delegations.
Ministers of Government and UN Tourism Officials will be welcomed from disembarkation and assisted through all the formalities by dedicated staff.
The Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Sierra Leone, will arrange free transport for all participants upon arrival, and departure from the airport, as well as return transport between the hotels listed below and the meeting venue.
All participants are therefore requested to register online giving the details of their arrival and departure in order to provide to the organisers the details of their arrival and departure. Free shuttles will also be arranged from the hotels listed below to the meeting venue and return.
Invited participants are requested to make their own arrangements by contacting their
chosen hotel through the phone and email addresses, and to make their reservations according to the hotels listed below. They should specify that they will be attending the Women in Tourism Regional Congress to be held in Freetown, Sierra Leone from 29 to 31 October 2024.
We highly recommend participants to book their accommodation at the earliest convenience to benefit from the discounted rates.
| No. | Hotel | Hotel Type | Room Type | Price in USD | Distance from Venue | Location | Contact/Email |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lead Hotel (Reserved for Ministers of Tourism and UN Delegates) | Resort | Business Suite | 200 | 10mins | 72a Cape Rd, Freetown | 232 33 933333 |
| Executive Suite | 290 | info@livingthelead.com | |||||
| Lead Suite | 600 | ||||||
| 2 | The Place Resort Tokeh (Reserved exclusively for a one-day meeting with Female Tourism Ministers and UN delegates) | Resort | Beach Front Premier Suites | 150 | 1hr 30mins | Peninsula Highway, Tokeh | 232 99 604000 |
| Sea View Deluxe Suite | 125 | welcome@stayattheplace.com | |||||
| Mountain View Junior Suite | 100 | ||||||
| 3 | Mamba Point Lagoonda Resort | Resort | Single Room | 140 | 10mins | 80 Cape Road, Aberdeen | Reservations@mambapointhotelfreetown.com |
| Double Room | 160 | ||||||
| 4 | Radisson Blu Mammy Yoko Hotel | Hotel | Standard | 140 | 5mins | Lumley Beach Rd, Freetown | 232 79 253 030 |
| Premium | 180 | patrick.nyallay@radissonblu.com | |||||
| 5 | Atlantic Lumley Hotel | Resort Hotel | Standard Room | 123 | 10mins | Lumley Beach Road, Freetown | iye.kowa@atlantichotel-sl.com |
| Executive Suite | 165 | 232 76 962 108 | |||||
| Presidential Suite | 1050 |
All participants are required to observe international health regulations on public health and measures for travellers.
Emergency health services will be provided by the Hospital on Wheels during the period of the Women in Tourism Regional Congress. Ambulance services will be provided for participants.
Hospitals and emergency telephone numbers are listed below:
Choithram Memorial Hospital Hill Station, Freetown
Contact: +23276 980 000 – Free call with local number
Life Care Hospital
198 Wilkinson Road, Freetown Tel: +23280 220 220
Emergency Services:
Hospital on Wheels
Dr. Yeabu Kargbo - +232 75 163 248
Dr. Sam Baio - +232
88 114 534
National Emergency Services
Contact: +23276300400
The average temperature in Sierra Leone during the month of October ranges from 25°c to 29°c.
Time in Sierra Leone is GMT+ 0.
Banks are open from 8:30 a.m to 4 pm from Monday to Friday. On Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays banks are closed.
Most shops are open from 8:30 a.m up to 18:00 pm
Workings Hours for both Government and the Private Sector are between 08:30hrs to 17:00hrs Monday to Friday. Saturday is not a working day for Government but most business establishments are openontact details for more info
Governments and other dignitaries invited by the Ministry of Tourism of Tourism and Cultural Affairs and UN Tourism are requested to send their replies to this email address: witc@motc.gov.sl or the officials listed below, at the latest by 30 September 2024, indicating as much as possible, the composition of their delegations.
In contributing to address systemic barriers and harness the full potential of women who make up majority of the tourism and hospitality workforce in Africa, a three-day Women in Tourism Regional Congress will be hosted by the Republic of Sierra Leone in collaboration with UN Tourism from 29 to 31 October, 2024.
Contact information of the organizing committee
Event Sponsors
