Leveraging Liberia's Tourism Potential
By: Aissa Bright
Tourism is a major component of any country because it affords local, national and international consumers the opportunity to travel, view and utilize the attractions that are available and unique to a particular culture of people. It is also a huge revenue generator and contributes to poverty reduction.
Liberia has not benefited from tourism primarily due to the underdevelopment of the industry. Additionally, with the aftermath of Liberia's civil war, many of the country's tourist infrastructure and attractions were ruined. This situation has obviously impeded the development of tourism in Liberia.
Liberia is endowed with more than 350 miles of clean sandy beaches, including natural sceneries, an abundance of lakes, waterfalls, islands, historical and eco-tourist sites, wildlife, and one of the biggest tropical rain forests in West Africa.
In the heart of Monrovia, below the Gabriel Tucker Bridge, lies the Providence Island, the place where the first settlers interacted with the indigenous brothers and sisters. Traveling west of the country, into Grand Cape Mount County, is the Massatin Island and the legendary and very picturesque salt-water Lake Piso.
In central Liberia, there is the captivating Kpatawee Waterfalls, in Bong County, the Nimba Mountain Range in Nimba County and the Sapo National Park in Sinoe County. There are also many historical and landmark sites in and around the country including the Providence Baptist Church, the JJ Roberts Monument (Ducor Hotel), the United Methodist Church (Nimba), the National Museum, and Hotel Africa, in Virginia, Montserrado County.
There is much to be done in order to regenerate and develop tourism in Liberia including the reactivation of a tourism office at the Roberts International Airport and repairing roads to tourist sites, among others.
Liberia definitely has touristic potential and with the efforts of government and its citizenry, Liberia can be on the map as one of the hottest touristic spots in the world!
Tourism is a major component of any country because it affords local, national and international consumers the opportunity to travel, view and utilize the attractions that are available and unique to a particular culture of people. It is also a huge revenue generator and contributes to poverty reduction.
Liberia has not benefited from tourism primarily due to the underdevelopment of the industry. Additionally, with the aftermath of Liberia's civil war, many of the country's tourist infrastructure and attractions were ruined. This situation has obviously impeded the development of tourism in Liberia.
Liberia is endowed with more than 350 miles of clean sandy beaches, including natural sceneries, an abundance of lakes, waterfalls, islands, historical and eco-tourist sites, wildlife, and one of the biggest tropical rain forests in West Africa.
In the heart of Monrovia, below the Gabriel Tucker Bridge, lies the Providence Island, the place where the first settlers interacted with the indigenous brothers and sisters. Traveling west of the country, into Grand Cape Mount County, is the Massatin Island and the legendary and very picturesque salt-water Lake Piso.
In central Liberia, there is the captivating Kpatawee Waterfalls, in Bong County, the Nimba Mountain Range in Nimba County and the Sapo National Park in Sinoe County. There are also many historical and landmark sites in and around the country including the Providence Baptist Church, the JJ Roberts Monument (Ducor Hotel), the United Methodist Church (Nimba), the National Museum, and Hotel Africa, in Virginia, Montserrado County.
There is much to be done in order to regenerate and develop tourism in Liberia including the reactivation of a tourism office at the Roberts International Airport and repairing roads to tourist sites, among others.
Liberia definitely has touristic potential and with the efforts of government and its citizenry, Liberia can be on the map as one of the hottest touristic spots in the world!