At the 68th Meeting of the UN Tourism Commission for Africa (CAF) held in Abuja, Nigeria, the Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs of Sierra Leone, Nabeela Farida Tunis, addressed delegates in her capacity as Chair of the Women in Tourism Leadership Africa Committee (WITLAC). In her remarks, she outlined recent milestones and shared a forward-looking agenda to advance women’s leadership and empowerment in Africa’s tourism sector.
“It is a great honour to address you in my capacity as Chair of the Women in Tourism Leadership Africa Committee,” she began.
The Minister reflected on progress made across the continent and the momentum generated by the Women in Tourism Congress held in Freetown in October 2024. She described the event as a significant step toward ensuring women are not just included in tourism, but positioned to lead and transform the industry.
“Today, I have the privilege of presenting key milestones from our collective efforts, including the landmark Women in Tourism Congress held in Freetown, and to outline the next steps as we move from momentum to a truly transformative movement across the continent.”
WITLAC itself was born out of a deep need to address the gender gap in tourism leadership. Launched in 2019 by African women ministers and tourism leaders, and supported by UN Tourism through its Regional Department for Africa, WITLAC has grown into a strategic platform for dialogue, collaboration, and gender-responsive solutions.
It aligns fully with Sustainable Development Goal 5 and the UN Tourism Agenda for Africa: Tourism for Inclusive Growth with women’s empowerment placed squarely at the centre.
The Women in Tourism Congress in Freetown, themed “Beyond Empowerment: Advancing Education, Innovation, and Finance Access,” brought together a vibrant mix of policymakers, entrepreneurs, academics, and grassroots voices. The goal was clear: to turn policies into action and ambition into measurable impact.
“Tourism is one of the most dynamic and promising sectors on our continent,” Minister Nabeela Tunis said. “But its full potential will only be realized when women who constitute the majority of the workforce are not only present, but empowered to lead, innovate, and transform the sector at every level.”
She extended sincere appreciation to the government of H.E. President Julius Maada Bio and to the private sector for their unwavering support in hosting the Congress. She also thanked UN Tourism for co-organizing the event and compiling the official Congress Report, which she encouraged all stakeholders to explore.
“Sierra Leone extends its deep gratitude to UN Tourism… I encourage you to access the full report which captures the full scope of insights and recommendations.”
The Congress generated a bold action agenda structured around four interconnected focus areas:
First, the need to embed gender equality at the heart of tourism policy. This includes enforcing gender parity in leadership, mainstreaming gender considerations in all tourism strategies, and advocating for supportive workplace environments that enable women to fully participate in and thrive within the sector.
Second, a commitment to equipping women with the skills they need to lead. From building partnerships with academic institutions to delivering tailored education and fostering innovation, the focus is on empowering women with tools that match the pace of change in the industry.
Third, unlocking access to finance for women entrepreneurs. This means expanding microfinance and venture capital channels, building smart and inclusive financial tools like mobile microcredit, and ensuring financial literacy is embedded into every entrepreneurship support program.
And finally, driving digital inclusion. Women must be given the digital and technological tools to thrive whether through AI, mobile tech, or smart tourism platforms ; so they can scale their businesses and shape the sector’s future.
WITLAC is already moving ahead with key initiatives. These include launching a Pan-African Mentorship Programme that connects emerging women leaders with seasoned professionals; selecting the next host country for the Women in Tourism Congress to maintain momentum; and mobilizing funding from governments, donors, development banks, and the private sector to open new doors for women in the industry.
In a forward-looking announcement, she revealed that Sierra Leone will host the 3rd UN Tourism Forum on Gastronomy Tourism in 2026; a unique opportunity to celebrate both the continent’s culinary richness and the transformative role of women in gastronomy.
“This will be an opportunity not only to showcase Africa’s rich culinary heritage, but also to spotlight the extraordinary contributions of women in gastronomy ; as innovators, custodians, and changemakers.”
Minister Nabeela Farida Tunis ended her remarks with a warm and inclusive invitation:
“You are all warmly invited to join us in 2026, as we continue building a tourism sector that is inclusive, resilient, and truly representative of the people who make it thrive.”
