The Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs (MTCA) has officially soft-launched WAKABOT, Sierra Leone’s first Artificial Intelligence-powered tourism chatbot and trip-planning platform, as part of activities marking World Tourism Day 2026.
The launch, held as part of activities commemorating World Tourism Day 2026, brought together representatives from the National Tourist Board, media organisations, senior management staff of the Ministry, and development partners. It aligns with this year’s global theme, “Digital Agenda and Artificial Intelligence to Redesign Tourism,” and represents a significant step in the Ministry’s drive to modernise tourism services through innovation and digital technology.
Delivering the keynote address, Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Nabeela Farida Tunis, described the initiative as a practical example of how technology can be used responsibly to make Sierra Leone easier to discover, explore, and connect with the rest of the world while preserving the country’s culture and renowned hospitality.
The Minister noted that since taking office, she has championed a tourism agenda anchored on people, driven by the private sector, and strengthened by technology and data. She revealed that the Ministry has reached more than six million Sierra Leoneans through tourism promotion activities and has attracted significant private sector investment into the industry.
Minister Tunis explained that the idea for WAKABOT emerged from discussions on AI-driven tourism during a high-level tourism forum in Saudi Arabia in 2025. The engagement led to a partnership between MTCA, UN Tourism, and Passporter Technologies to develop a digital travel solution for Sierra Leone. She disclosed that Sierra Leone is the first country in the Mano River Union to introduce such a tourism platform.
WAKABOT enables visitors to create personalised itineraries, identify tourist attractions, locate hotels and restaurants, collaborate with friends on travel plans, and organise important travel documents, including flight tickets, visas, insurance, and hotel reservations. The platform is also expected to increase the visibility of local tourism businesses and communities.
Speaking on the significance of the initiative during Sierra Leone’s Year of Culture and Creativity, the Minister said the platform would help showcase the nation’s heritage, arts, music, cuisine, and cultural experiences to a wider global audience.
She further announced that the project will be implemented in two phases. The first phase is the Trip Planner and AI chatbot launched this week, while the second phase will focus on content development and big data analytics to strengthen tourism marketing, policy planning, and sector performance measurement.
Earlier, MTCA’s Head of Public Affairs and Communication, Emmanuel A.B. Turay, described the launch as a major milestone in the Ministry’s digital transformation agenda and a reflection of its commitment to innovation and improved service delivery in the tourism sector
The ceremony was opened by Senior Permanent Secretary Judith C. Jones and concluded with remarks from Director of Tourism Mohamed Jalloh. Representatives from the National Tourist Board, media institutions, development partners, and senior Ministry officials attended the event.
The soft launch of WAKABOT marks a new chapter in Sierra Leone’s tourism development, combining technology, culture, and creativity to enhance visitor experiences, support local businesses, and position the country as a competitive and accessible tourism destination
