Liberia Celebrates World Tourism Day 2026, Unveils Two New Digital Tourism Tools: Unforgettable Liberia and MEL Data Suite
MONROVIA, Liberia, September 28, 2026 — The Liberia National Tourism Authority (LNTA) on Monday held its official observance of World Tourism Day 2026, bringing together government representatives, tourism stakeholders, private-sector actors, students and other partners to celebrate Liberia’s tourism potential and highlight the growing role of digital technology in the sector.
The observance, held under the theme “Digital Agenda and Artificial Intelligence to Redesign Tourism,” focused on how technology, reliable tourism data and artificial intelligence can help Liberia improve destination promotion, visitor experiences, tourism planning and decision-making. The ceremony followed the global observance of World Tourism Day on September 27.
World Tourism Day has been observed globally every September 27 since 1980, providing an annual opportunity for countries to highlight tourism’s economic, cultural and social importance and its contribution to sustainable development.
The program featured remarks from Hon. Melvin Nye, Acting Director General of the Liberia National Tourism Authority, who welcomed participants and emphasized the importance of strengthening Liberia’s tourism sector through innovation, partnerships and improved visibility.
The Presidential Proclamation on World Tourism Day 2026 was read by Student Nelson S. Kanneh of Levi C. Williams High School. The proclamation recognizes tourism as an important contributor to economic growth, employment, cultural preservation, community development and national development.
The observance also featured a reading of the World Tourism Day 2026 message from the UN Tourism Secretary-General, delivered by Atty. Jani Kadiyatu Kollie, Deputy Director General for Marketing and Promotions, followed by a cultural performance by the National Culture Troupe, showcasing Liberia’s cultural heritage as an important part of the country’s tourism identity.
Delivering the keynote address on “Digital Transformation and the Future of Liberia’s Tourism,” Paul Wungko highlighted the changing ways travelers discover, plan and experience destinations.
Wungko explained that the modern traveler increasingly moves through a digital journey that begins with discovering a destination online and continues through planning, booking, traveling, experiencing and sharing the trip. He stressed that Liberia needs reliable digital tools and information to ensure the country is visible throughout that journey.
He further emphasized that reliable and verified tourism data must form the foundation for the effective use of artificial intelligence.
Wungko also highlighted the potential of digital platforms to create greater visibility for small tourism businesses, including guesthouses, tour guides, cooks, drivers, artisans, photographers and community-based tourism operators.
He emphasized that technology should complement rather than replace Liberia’s people, culture and natural heritage, noting that while future visitors may discover Liberia through digital platforms or algorithms, their experience of the country ultimately depends on its people, communities, culture and natural environment.
A major highlight of the ceremony was the official launch of LNTA’s digital tourism tools, including the MEL Data Suite and the Unforgettable Liberia digital platform.
Reacting to the launch, Paul Wungko, who delivered the keynote address, expressed enthusiasm about the new digital tools.
“This gladdens my heart because this is something we have always longed for,” Wungko said as LNTA introduced Unforgettable Liberia and the MEL Data Suite. “This is exactly what we have been looking for.”
Dogba A. Norris, Director General for Planning, Research and Development at LNTA, delivered a presentation on the MEL Data Suite, highlighting its role in strengthening monitoring, evaluation and learning, as well as the use of tourism data to support informed decision-making.
The Unforgettable Liberia platform provides a digital gateway for discovering Liberia’s tourism offerings, including destinations, tourism experiences and tourism professionals. The platform also connects visitors with tourism operators and provides information to assist travelers in planning their experiences in Liberia.
The digital initiatives reflect LNTA’s broader effort to use technology to improve the way tourism information is collected, managed, analyzed and communicated, while strengthening the promotion and visibility of Liberia as a tourism destination.
The ceremony brought together a range of stakeholders and guests, including Hon. Nathaniel Barnes, former Minister of Finance; Clarine Simpson, Managing Partner of MSI Africa; and Mr. Ambrose Wigle, former Director of Tourism, among other participants and partners.
