The Federal Government of Somalia has approved the country’s National Tourism Policy. This comes after 11-months of engagements by the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism with key stakeholders of the sector. The policy provides the framework needed to leverage the benefits of tourism to support the social and economic development of the country.
The policy outlines the development and enhancement of tourism across Somalia over the period 2019-2030 and aims to promote the ecotourism, growth, inclusiveness, sustainability, innovation and partnerships in the mainstream economy, while recommending institutional and regulatory frameworks in order to achieve its intended goals.
Senior Tourism Advisor to the Cabinet of the Somali Government Yasir Baffo mid last year (2019) presented summary of the policy to the government to appraise itself well with the document.
One of the main highlights in the policy was stabilising academic institutions, tourism vision 2030, and rehabilitating the Ministry building and having a stand-alone full function Ministry.
Deputy Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism Hon. H. E. Adan Isak Ali recalled the importance of document and said its forms a bigger plan of making tourism a key driver in the economy of Somalia. He added that, Somalia joining UNWTO was part of a bigger picture to ensure the country learn from best global practices when it comes to tourism.
Approving the tourism policy means the sector now has the policy framework that would allow it to develop further and attract more investment.
