Liberia holds Bilateral Engagement with UN Tourism Secretary General to improve the Tourism Sector.
In a decisive step toward repositioning Liberia on the global tourism map, the Director General of the Liberia National Tourism Authority (LNTA), Hon. Princess Eva Cooper, held a high-level bilateral meeting with H.E Shaikha Al Nuwais, Secretary-General of UN Tourism, alongside senior leadership including the Executive Directors and other top officials.
The engagement marks a significant diplomatic and technical breakthrough for Liberia’s emerging tourism sector, as H.E Shaikha Al Nuwais pledged institutional support to accelerate the country’s transformation into a competitive and sustainable destination.
At the center of the discussions, the DG requested comprehensive support in capacity building, technical assistance, policy and regulatory strengthening, destination marketing, and linkages to global investment opportunities. The Secretary-General also signaled openness to facilitating strategic partnerships with peer institutions, including collaboration pathways with Rwanda, to support knowledge exchange and institutional learning.
In a strong endorsement of Liberia’s reform trajectory, the UN Tourism SG commended the recent adoption of the Tourism Satellite Account (TSA) as the country’s official tourism reporting framework. Emphasizing that “data is the hallmark of informed tourism decisions,” the Secretary-General described the move as a critical milestone in aligning Liberia with global tourism standards.
She further congratulated Hon. Cooper for the bold and structured steps taken to revamp Liberia’s tourism sector, noting the Authority’s clear direction in advancing governance systems, strengthening institutional frameworks, and positioning tourism as a pillar for economic diversification, job creation, and inclusive growth.
The bilateral meeting also explored targeted technical support for the development and refinement of Liberia’s strategic tourism plans and policy frameworks, alongside initiatives to enhance tourism statistics, digital transformation, and global market visibility.
Both parties reaffirmed a shared commitment to sustainable and inclusive tourism, with priority focus on youth and women empowerment, eco-tourism, surfing and infrastructure development. The meeting concluded with concrete next steps, including the establishment of a joint technical team comprising UN Tourism and Liberia to further engage, align, and define the specific support required to advance sustainable tourism development in the country.
This landmark engagement signals a new chapter in Liberia’s tourism journey, anchored in global partnerships, data-driven planning, and a bold vision to emerge as one of West Africa’s emost compelling and competitive destinations.
