The Minister of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism, Hon. Jerolinmek Matthew Piah, has joined two dozen African Ministers of Tourism at a High-Level Ministerial Meeting on the sidelines of the 26th Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations Tourism Organization (UN Tourism), held in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. During the meeting, Minister Piah presented Liberiaβs tourism development strategy as outlined within the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development, emphasizing the need for collaboration across African nations to strengthen sustainable tourism growth and resilience on the continent.
He underscored the potential of tourism as a catalyst for economic diversification, cultural preservation, and community empowerment in Africa. Minister Piah was accompanied by Ambassador Christopher Hayes-Onanuga, Presidential Special Envoy on Tourism, who contributed to bilateral discussions aimed at deepening partnerships between Liberia and other African countries in the tourism sector. The session was presided over by Honourable Rodney M. Sikumba, Minister of Tourism of Zambia and Chairperson of the UN Tourism Regional Commission for Africa.
The Ministers jointly reaffirmed their commitment to fostering stronger coordination, resource mobilization, and unity of purpose among African Member States to ensure the continentβs tourism priorities are effectively represented and advanced within the global tourism framework. In their communique, the African Tourism Ministers highlighted the importance of regional cooperation, digital transformation, and sustainable investment in tourism infrastructure. They pledged to align their national strategies with the UN Tourism Agenda for Africa β Tourism for Inclusive Growth, focusing on job creation, innovation, and green tourism practices.
Minister Piah welcomed the collective pledge, noting that βLiberia stands ready to work closely with sister African nations and international partners to promote Africa as a leading destination for sustainable and inclusive tourism.β The meeting concluded with renewed optimism for strengthening Africaβs voice in global tourism governance and positioning the continent as a vibrant, unified destination for the world.
