By Michaella Faith Wright

Sierra Leone’s got it all an eco-tourism jackpot waiting to be cracked open, yet, despite flickers of progress, experts warn the nation’s tourism sector is still a sleeping giant, starved of the investment and vision needed to fuel jobs and jolt the economy awake.

Globally, tourism powered 10% of GDP pre-COVID, a lifeline for developing nations. In Sierra Leone, it limped along at 2.5% in 2023, per the World Travel & Tourism Council peanuts next to neighbors like The Gambia or Ghana, where visitors prop up entire economies. The gap screams opportunity, but the hurdles are real: crumbling roads, scant marketing, and shaky public-private ties keep the dream at bay, still, the Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs is signaling a shift.

Fresh from ITB Berlin the planet’s premier travel trade show Minister Nabeela Farida Tunis doubled down on eco-tourism and heritage, our natural beauty and cultural soul are our edge,  she said, echoing the event’s theme, Eco-Tourism  Connecting Culture, Conservation, and Communities, The world’s eyes are on our forests, our traditions, our birds. Her pitch at Berlin wasn’t just talk it’s a bet on Sierra Leone’s wild, unspoiled allure as a ticket to global travel stardom.

The payoff could be massive. Tourism here isn’t just postcard views it’s grassroots gold, think youth slinging lattes in beachside cafes, women guiding treks through ancient villages, artisans and fishermen cashing in on curious travelers, community-based tourism homestays, krio food trails, wildlife jaunts, festival fever could funnel cash straight to the margins, turning rural outposts into thriving hubs.

But the vision’s stuck in neutral without muscle. Roads to remote gems are a mess, cheap lodging’s a fantasy, and power flickers like a dying bulb. Experts say: fix it. Build a digital tourism hub bookings, buzz, reviews to lure the wired wanderer, train the talent, too youth eager to join the game need skills in hospitality and charm, not just grit. A tourism school or curriculum tweak could spark that fire.

Policy’s the backbone, tax breaks, investor perks, and ironclad safety nets could coax cash in,  Glue government, councils, and global partners together, and the plan sings. But here’s the catch: sustainability can’t lag. Over-tourism could gut those lush forests and pristine shores. Parks and relics need green rules strict ones and locals on the frontlines of conservation.

The vibe’s hopeful, berlin’s spotlight and the eco-tourism push hint at momentum. Sierra Leone’s natural and cultural stash isn’t just a draw it’s a dare, with smart investment, local grit, and a green compass, this could be the engine for inclusive growth the nation’s craved.

Minister Tunis nailed it: This isn’t just tourism it’s our identity, our future, Sierra Leone’s not dreaming of a tourism boom, it’s on the cusp, time to swing the hammer and crack that goldmine wide open.