Call For Action: EPA Boss Mounts Call for More Investment to Tourism in Liberia

By: William K. Howard 

Monrovia: Following a tour to various Tourism sites around the World, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Executive Director has highlighted the lack of investment in Liberia's culture and heritage.

Speaking during the Launch of day-long Tourism Stakeholder's Dialogue Friday at Cape Hotel in Mamba Point, Dr. Yarkpawolo boldly told a gathering of officials of government and International partners that; a successful tourism cannot take place until there are proper mechanisms put in place to attract tourists.

 "I hope this dialogue is the beginning point of fixing the mistakes those who came before us made. How do we make Liberia so attractive in a way that we can raise millions or not billions of dollars to invest in our development agenda? There is a saying that money brings money. Like

The Landstrum monument case, money was first invested heavily and because of the initial investment, the city of Bonn and the

German people are making more money today".

The EPA Boss is also pleading with the national government and other partners to invest heavily in the tourism sectors of Liberia stating; Liberia already has natural beauty and all that is needed is innovation in creating pathways, security, and investment opportunities.

He named the Sapo National Park, some 350 coastlines with beautiful beaches as those in Little Kola in Grand Bassa County, breathtaking waterfalls, historical sites including Providence Island and Beaso village in Bomi County, just to name a few as God-given attractions the Country's has.

"As we continue the dialogue, I am concerned about the various parks that are being built in the city areas. I know the FDA has park rangers that take care of the forest but who is responsible for the parks in the city areas? Should they be managed by the proposed National Tourism Authority or should we create a separate entity? I do not want us to let our guard down on the investments that have already been made in creating beautiful and recreational centers in Monrovia, which are also tourist attractions.

Dr. Emmanuel Urey Yarkpawolo used the occasion appreciating all the donor partners for financially supporting the dialogue on the formalization and synchronization of the Tourism National Policy that will lead to the development dialogue roadmap underlining their gesture in supporting such a work, something he says demonstrates their commitment in responding to the needs and agenda of the government that is so keen in unlocking the tourism sector of the country.