Dubai, UAE, 3rd February, 2026 – Shaikha Alnuwais, the newly elected Secretary-General of UN Tourism and the first woman to hold the post, has pledged strong support for Sierra Leone’s tourism sector following a high-level meeting with President Julius Maada Bio on the sidelines of the World Governments Summit in Dubai.
During the talks, Alnuwais outlined her five strategic priorities for global tourism: sustainable and responsible growth, digital transformation, economic inclusion, infrastructure and connectivity, and governance and transparency. She emphasized Sierra Leone’s untapped potential as a tourism destination and expressed her commitment to working closely with the government to unlock new opportunities.
Alnuwais also highlighted her recent engagement with Sierra Leone’s Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Madam Nabeela F. Tunis, praising her visionary leadership in advancing the sector.
President Bio congratulated Alnuwais on her historic election and acknowledged the UAE’s role in supporting her candidacy. He reaffirmed Sierra Leone’s dedication to deepening cooperation with UN Tourism, stressing that stronger collaboration would accelerate progress in the sector. The President also commended Minister Tunis for her achievements and pledged his full support to the Secretary-General’s agenda.
In closing, Alnuwais announced plans to visit Sierra Leone in the near future, signaling a new chapter of partnership aimed at boosting the country’s tourism profile on the global stage.
