Jamaica and Sierra Leone Strengthen Africa-Caribbean Tourism Cooperation: Focus on Resilience, Youth, and Cultural Ties
High-level talks in Kingston in early February 2026 opened a new chapter in connecting Jamaica and Sierra Leone through tourism and culture, with an emphasis on the sector's resilience to crises and the role of youth in shaping future policies. According to a report by the specialized media outlet eTurboNews, the meeting on February 3, 2026, at the premises of the Jamaican Ministry of Tourism in New Kingston brought together Jamaican Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett and Sierra Leone’s Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs Nabeela Tunis, with the participation of representatives associated with the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre (GTRCMC) and diplomatic representatives.
The very fact that two countries, geographically distant and connected primarily by history and diaspora, seek common ground in tourism reflects a shift in the global travel industry. Following the pandemic, climate shocks, and geopolitical disruptions, “resilience” has become a political term, and tourism is increasingly described as a development tool affecting employment, investment, local income, and the preservation of cultural heritage. That is why the talks in Kingston gained weight that goes beyond the framework of a protocol meeting: it is an attempt to build cooperation between Africa and the Caribbean that equally targets cultural rapprochement, institution building, and the creation of new reasons for travel.
Global Framework: UN “Tourism Resilience Day” and Why February 17 Matters
In the background of the initiative is an international framework formalized in the United Nations. By UN General Assembly Resolution A/RES/77/269, adopted on February 6, 2023, February 17 was declared Global Tourism Resilience Day. The resolution calls on member states to encourage more resilient tourism development to better cope with shocks, emphasizing the sector's vulnerability to emergencies and the need for national rehabilitation strategies after disruptions, including cooperation between the public and private sectors and the diversification of tourism activities and products.
The same UN document highlights the scale of damage the COVID-19 pandemic caused to the tourism economy, with data on a sharp decline in economic impacts and international arrivals. The broader message of the resolution is that tourism, as one of the key economic sectors in a range of countries, must be planned with the assumption that disruptions will become more frequent, whether due to climate extremes, health crises, security risks, or breaks in global supply chains. That is precisely why Global Tourism Resilience Day is designed as a reminder, but also as a platform that should encourage real policies: from crisis plans and communication toward travelers, to investment in destination security and more resilient infrastructure.
Jamaica played a visible role in this process. The Jamaican Ministry of Tourism reported in 2023 that the UN officially ratified the annual observance of February 17 and emphasized that the initiative was the result of months of diplomatic activities and advocacy, with the goal of increasing awareness and encouraging concrete actions by global tourism stakeholders. In practical terms, the observance of the day is conceived as a platform for the exchange of policies and experiences on crisis management, recovery planning, job protection, and the faster restoration of traveler confidence after disruptions.
Kingston as a Place of “Reconnecting” Africa and the Caribbean
According to eTurboNews, Minister Bartlett described Minister Tunis’s visit as a “reconnecting” of Africa and the Caribbean, rooted in shared history and diaspora, but oriented toward the future through cooperation in tourism, education, and institutions. Such a narrative is increasingly turning into a tourism strategy: countries are looking for partnership models that are not only market-based but also cultural, with programs including education, festival cooperation, and heritage promotion. For Jamaica, which profiles itself in global tourism as a vocal advocate for resilience, partnerships with African states further expand the political and economic network of influence, but also offer a framework for new forms of cultural tourism.
That such an agenda is not new is suggested by earlier plans. The Jamaican Ministry of Tourism announced in January 2023 the preparation of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Sierra Leone, with areas of cooperation such as air connectivity, training and personnel development, marketing activities, cultural exchange, diversification of offerings, and resilience. These elements generally represent the “infrastructure” of bilateral tourism: without personnel, promotion, and minimal logistical connectivity, it is difficult to turn symbolism into numbers. The announcement of the MoU then suggested that the two countries were trying to open the door to a more systematic partnership, and the Kingston talks in 2026 fit into that longer-term direction.
Youth at the Center: Seminar in Sierra Leone and a Message of Leadership Through Resilience
The central announcement following the Kingston talks refers to the observance of Global Tourism Resilience Day on February 17, 2026, in Sierra Leone. According to eTurboNews, as part of the observance, a seminar focused on youth is planned at the University of Sierra Leone, with the expected participation of at least 300 young people. The same report conveys the message that young people are not “products of the crisis,” but builders of the future, and that the seminar is envisioned as a space where students and youth will talk about what resilience means in their communities and how more sustainable development can be built, including cultural identity and economic stability.
Such a focus is not accidental. In a number of countries, tourism is linked to the first work experiences of young people, seasonal jobs, educational programs, and entrepreneurship. When disruptions occur, it is often young people who first feel the consequences through income interruption and reduced opportunities, and only later return to the labor market. Including young people in the public discussion on resilience, at least at the level of symbolism, suggests an attempt to respond to crises in the long term: through knowledge, competencies, and institutional changes, and not just through short-term campaigns to bring back tourists.
In international documents, resilience is linked to jobs, foreign investment, heritage protection, and reducing the vulnerability of local communities. When young people are included in such a picture, the message becomes twofold: it is about a generation that will lead recoveries after future shocks, but also about a group that must participate in defining the “new normal” of tourism, including the issue of sustainability, identity preservation, and the balance between economic growth and pressure on local resources.
Year of Culture and Creativity: How Sierra Leone in 2026 Combines Tourism and Creative Industries
The focus on youth further fits into the broader framework Sierra Leone is building for 2026. According to BusinessDay NG, Minister Tunis announced on December 29, 2025, via a social media post, that 2026 would be the “Year of Culture and Creativity,” building on the “Year of Ecotourism” campaign from 2025. The text states that this is a strategic shift: from highlighting natural resources and responsible travel toward a stronger reliance on cultural assets and creative industries as drivers of inclusive growth, national cohesion, and economic opportunities.
For tourism policies, this can mean several very concrete moves. Cultural programs and events become “anchors” for travel, thereby extending the season and spreading consumption beyond classic patterns. Space opens up for local authors and entrepreneurs from creative industries, from music and film to crafts, gastronomy, and design, which connects tourism with employment and education policies. However, such a model also requires investment in infrastructure, heritage interpretation, guide education, and content development that is simultaneously authentic and market-sustainable, without trivializing local traditions.
In practice, culture and creativity are often also a response to increasing competition among destinations. In a world where many countries offer similar natural attractions and hotel standards, differentiation through culture becomes a strategic advantage. If Sierra Leone succeeds in 2026 in substantively connecting cultural programs with its tourism offer, it could strengthen the image of a destination that sells an experience and a story, and not just accommodation and sightseeing, where the role of young authors and performers is particularly important.
Institutional Resilience and the Role of the GTRCMC: From Idea to a Network of Satellites
In the eTurboNews report, actors associated with the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre (GTRCMC) also play an important role. This center, according to its own descriptions, acts as a resource hub and “think-tank” based in Jamaica, focused on destination preparation, crisis management, and recovery after disruptions. The logic is that resilience is not created only through conferences and declarations, but through the constant development of tools, research, and protocols that help destinations react faster, preserve jobs, and minimize long-term damage.
The existence of regional satellites is part of that strategy. the Jamaica Information Service reported on the expansion of the GTRCMC satellite location network in several global points, including Nairobi in Kenya and Toronto in Canada, as well as locations in Europe and the Middle East. Parallelly, Kenyatta University in Kenya, on the GTRCMC–Eastern Africa page, states that the regional center was established in November 2019 as a response to the need for crisis management in tourism in East Africa. Such centers, according to their own descriptions, have the role of connecting the academic community, public institutions, and industry, so that resilient policies are turned into operational guidelines.
In this context, strengthening ties between Jamaica and Sierra Leone also gains an institutional dimension. If cooperation develops toward joint projects, education, and expert exchanges, the two states can serve as a bridge for the broader connection of African and Caribbean destinations in the area of resilience standards and crisis management. This is particularly relevant for smaller economies that heavily depend on tourism, as one large shock can quickly “erase” revenues, increase pressure on public finances, and destabilize local labor markets.
Cultural Diplomacy and “Soft” Ties: Consulate, Diaspora, and Projects on the Ground
In addition to institutions, there is also a diplomatic-cultural infrastructure that allows cooperation to turn into a continuous process. Irie FM reported in October 2025 Minister Tunis’s statement that talks on strengthening tourism ties have been ongoing for some time and that it is also about cultural exchange, not just tourism. The same report also includes a statement by the Honorary Consul of Sierra Leone in Jamaica, Professor Rosalee Hamilton, according to which, since the establishment of the consulate in 2023, the mandate to strengthen historical and cultural ties between the two states has been largely fulfilled.
Such “soft” ties are often key to tourism between distant regions: academic collaborations, cultural events, diaspora networks, and projects that create a reason for travel outside the standard season. When these elements are connected with concrete policies, for example through agreements on joint festivals, residency programs for artists, student exchanges, or the development of interpretation centers, cooperation can also generate visible tourism effects. The eTurboNews report mentions ideas for lasting cultural cooperation projects, indicating that both sides want to “anchor” the partnership beyond one-off events.
Africa-Caribbean Tourism: Opportunities, Obstacles, and the Issue of Air Connectivity
Although historical and cultural ties are emphasized in public statements, the key challenge remains practical: how to increase travel between Africa and the Caribbean when direct air links are limited and travel is often expensive and logistically complex. Therefore, earlier MoU announcements mentioned air connectivity, but such changes usually require time, commercial budgets of carriers, and sufficient demand. In the meantime, faster results are often brought by steps that do not immediately depend on new lines: joint marketing, thematic itineraries, cooperation between tourism boards, and the encouragement of specialized segments such as cultural tourism, diaspora, conferences, and educational programs.
At the same time, both Jamaica and Sierra Leone operate in an environment of high exposure to shocks. Caribbean states are notoriously exposed to the tropical storm season, while West African countries can be vulnerable to epidemiological or political disruptions, alongside climate changes that alter precipitation patterns and resource availability. This is exactly why resilience cannot remain at the level of slogans: it includes business continuity planning, crisis communication, security protocols, digital readiness, but also the diversification of the local economy so that a shock in tourism less affects the overall livelihood of communities.
What to Expect in 2026: A Series of Events and a Test of Implementation
As February 17, 2026, approaches, Global Tourism Resilience Day will become a practical test for states that supported the initiative in the UN. According to eTurboNews, part of the international events should also take place outside Jamaica, with the announcement that Nairobi should host the first international celebration outside Jamaica and that events will be activated in several countries simultaneously. Since these are reports from a media report, details about official partners, the program, and the format are worth following through announcements from the relevant ministries and institutions behind individual events.
For Sierra Leone, the university seminar can be an opportunity for the “Year of Culture and Creativity” to gain international visibility and for youth, as well as institutions, to open space for discussion on concrete policies: from support for cultural projects and educational programs, to safety standards and crisis management in destinations. For Jamaica, which positions itself as a leader on the theme of resilience, deepening cooperation with African partners strengthens the diplomatic and economic dimension of Caribbean tourism, especially at a time when destinations compete not only with attractions and hotels, but also with the ability to react quickly to disruptions.
Ultimately, the success of this initiative will not be measured only by the number of meetings and memorandums, but by whether ideas are translated into programs on the ground: the exchange of knowledge, content that connects culture and tourism, and mechanisms that will, in moments of crisis, help local communities not to be left without income and perspective. If Jamaica and Sierra Leone in 2026 show that resilience can be built through youth and culture, their cooperation could become one of the more recognizable examples of partnership between Africa and the Caribbean at a time when global tourism is trying to adapt to a new, more unstable reality.
Sources:- eTurboNews – report on the Kingston meeting on February 3, 2026, and plans for the observance of Global Tourism Resilience Day ( link )- Ministry of Tourism of Jamaica – announcement on the UN declaration of February 17 as Global Tourism Resilience Day ( link )- United Nations (documents.un.org) – resolution A/RES/77/269 “Global Tourism Resilience Day” (PDF) ( link )- BusinessDay NG – text on the declaration of 2026 as the “Year of Culture and Creativity” in Sierra Leone ( link )- Irie FM – report on deepening tourism ties and the role of cultural exchange ( link )- Jamaica Information Service – text on the expansion of the GTRCMC satellite location network ( link )- GTRCMC–Eastern Africa (Kenyatta University) – basic information about the regional center and its founding in November 2019 ( link )
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