By Fada
The Sierra Leone Hotels Association (SLAH) has expressed significant concerns over the current tax burdens affecting the tourism sector, advocating for a reduction in taxation to support the industry’s growth and sustainability.
National President for Sierra Leone Association of Hotels, Johnny Shallop said they have existed for a long time wherein they though of brining all on board under one umbrella which is the SLAH with regional executives across the country.
He cited that the tourism sector in Sierra Leone faces many challenges in this aspect but together with the federation, they are moving in the right direction adding that they been able to set regional offices,payment of NGO and NRA taxes, duplication of payment to both EPA and FCC and also with the collective bargaining agreement, they have been able to address the challenges with Labour Ministry to cut down on the multiple taxes levied on them in the past years
He said the country currently lacks five-star hotels all over and also lacks the investment into five-star hotels. “If you go to Guinea, you have hotels that are up to 600, 700 bedrooms in the cities,You go to Senegal, Ghana, Ivory Coast, and the likes but where is Sierra Leone in this? That’s the purpose of the federation as we would take a look at these kind of issues and try to put Sierra Leone on the map. It doesn’t have to be in the hands of government only,
but private sectors have to come together and conquer those challenges,” he added.
The President noted that the high cost of travel to Sierra Leone is affecting the flow of the number of people coming into the country and therefore causing investment not to grow.
He said once the prices changes or reduced by the officials at the Air port, it will take but a minute for a rapid booming in the tourism industry.
He called on investors in the tourism industry to stand together to make the changes they are yearning for as professionals “even though the government are policy makers but we are the investors now and we must use our funds and techniques to change the narratives to raise the country’s flag high.
He explained that Freetown is not a tourist site as its stands as a hub as compared to iilb the provinces like Kabala(Northernregion),Bo,Kenema and many others where lot of attractions are with beautiful greenery sites.
Also Vice President for Eastern region, Patrick M Senesie stated that for the past two months they have been enjoying full time electricity as compared to the previous which has been a grappling one.
He said business has not been much due to poor road networks leading Liberia to Kenema as investors are now using the Bo -Pujehun route adding that domestic tourism too is another challenge even with the numerous beaches they have which is not been maintained causing it to be less used.
He disclosed that some people discovered islands but due to lack of finance,they have not been able to access it but consultations are in progress with Bo city council for them to invest in it for people to visit there during the holidays.
He said due to increased tourism investment back with the skill trading colleges in the district, employment rate for youth has been a success story so far.
National Vice President from the southern region, Samuel A.Goba said the tourism investment in their region is a big one because a lot of other people
are massively building hotels for domestic and international tourism. He disclosed that they have almost 20 hotels now in the southern region, 56 guest houses, and 57 restaurants, bars, and others which according to the VP described as big investments done in the region to be part of the development of the country.
He said there are a lot of other elements going on for the upgrading to have 5 star hotels but knowing the fact that private investment is not a small one but they working harder to improve on reaching the benchmarks of a 5star hotel.
He expressed that one of the success story for their sector is that people are now interested in getting bigger business in tourism which shows greater impact in making sure tourism is pushed.
Norther Region Vice President, Annette Iye Bangura said bringing people was a bit challenging at the initial stage but they are getting more attention now as compared to the past.
She said the tourism sector in the north has been a laudable one and a growing which shows that federation has done a great job in bringing everyone on board amidst the challenges faced.
