MONROVIA, LIBERIA -The daunting task to change the little attention Liberia’s culture and tourism once faced for decades no longer stands to exist as a private self regulatory organization under the banner, the Liberia National Tourism Association (LINTA), has said.

Officials of LINTA said its existence will give way for the promotion of the Nation’s rich culture and acts, beautiful beaches, historical sites, wildlife, including varieties of traditional cuisines that abounds.

LINTA is a leading private sector entrepreneurs grouping dedicated to rebranding Liberia culture and tourism, and make the country a major tourist’s designation.

The Chairperson of LINTA, Mai  Bright Urey, said: “The  essence of  rebranding, and showcase Liberia’s culture and tourism heritage has never being realized until 2014 when few well-meaning Liberians and  our development partners formed collaborated to form  this self regulatory body,  to promote and make Liberia an attraction point”.

Mrs. Urey, in her welcome remarks, told dignitaries of government, including members of the Diplomatic Corps, business representatives and the private sector that the official launch evolved after a prolonged deep thought for major roles they have to play in moving tourism forward in Liberia and thanked their partners for collaboration for a dream come true.

Several tourism, local fashion and design, culture groups and local enterprises, including Liberia’s leading tourism education and tour facilitator, Heartbeat Tourism for Sustainable Development (HTSD)-Liberia, graced the association’s official launch Wednesday, May 30, 2018, at the Bella Casa Hotel, in Sinkor, Monrovia.

“Like any country in the world or in the region, we out to showcase the beauty  and heritage Liberia possesses, interim of art and culture to rebrand the  Africa marks Dancer, known as the  ‘Devil’ and showcase the rich talents of Liberian artists as well as the Nation’s eco-tourism”.

The LINTA Chairperson assured government and the private sector to join LINTA in its role map to drive culture and tourism.

LINTA has identified six areas including policy, Visa upon arrival at the Roberts International Airport (RIA), reduction of taxes at the airport.

Others include the creation of an autonomous tourism authority; develop tourist’s designations to expose available sites by working to improve roads and other infrastructure facilities.  Also LINTA is eying to develop the six Charlesville’s champs Islands, in Lower Margibi County.

Deputy Minister for Culture and Tourism, Lance Gbagonyon, lauded LINTA for drawing up a role map for Liberia’s culture and tourism development; “you have set the pace for other within the private sector in making the Government development Agenda success”.

Minister Gbagonyon noted that because of LINTA’s impressive engagement of government, his ministry is ready to work together to achieve government’s goals for culture and tourism. He henceforth, on behalf of government, extended invitation to LINTA serve on the Ministry’s Tourism Technical Working Group to drive a sustainable tourism growth.

Minister Gbagonyon challenged LINTA to include and bring on board local stakeholders to have inclusive tourism development and ensured of government projects ongoing on the Kpatawee Waterfalls, Providence Island and Lake Peso are developed to fall in line with LINTA plan of action.

As part of Government’s Enhance Integrated Frame Work (EIF) Project, under the Ministry of Trade Commerce, and Industry, a six man team is in the country and conducting studies for the full skill development of surf   sports on the Lake Peso in Grand Cape Mount County.