Liberia Regains Full UN Tourism After 13 Years

After more than a decade in the shadows of global tourism diplomacy, Liberia has triumphantly reclaimed its full membership in the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UN Tourism), marking a stunning comeback that signals renewed hope for the nation’s long-dormant tourism industry.

For 13 long years, Liberia remained inactive within the world’s leading tourism body, its voice unheard, and its potential untapped.

But under President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s visionary ARREST Agenda, the government has reignited national determination to restore Liberia’s rightful place among nations shaping global tourism policies.

President Boakai’s administration identified tourism as a “sleeping giant” a once-promising sector left to languish due to years of institutional neglect and non-compliance.

Within his first year in office, the President moved decisively to awaken that giant, appointing Ambassador Christopher Hayes Onanuga as his Special Envoy on Tourism to spearhead the country’s re-engagement with international partners.

To strengthen the national framework, the government enacted the landmark Liberia National Tourism Authority (LNTA) Act of 2025, establishing a central coordinating body to oversee the tourism and creative industries.

This legal foundation now places Liberia in a stronger position to manage, promote, and protect its natural and cultural heritage.

Leading the new tourism authority is Director General-Designate Ms. Princess Eva Cooper, with Atty. Dogba K. Norris serving as Deputy Director General-Designate for Planning.

In a bold demonstration of leadership, the pair made reinstatement into UN Tourism their top priority during their very first week in office.

After two weeks of intensive diplomatic engagement, document reviews, and financial planning, Liberia formally submitted a ten-year payment plan to clear its arrears a crucial step that paved the way for the UN Tourism Secretariat to restore the country’s full membership status.

The reinstatement grants Liberia the full privileges of membership, including voting rights and participation in key decision-making processes that shape the global tourism agenda.

This rare exemption, granted even before the formal signing of the payment plan, reflects the UN body’s confidence in Liberia’s renewed commitment.

In a statement, the UN Tourism Secretariat hailed Liberia’s proactive re-engagement as “a model of determination and reform,” promising full support to help the country rebuild its tourism sector through training, technical assistance, and international visibility.

Director General-Designate Princess Eva Cooper described the reinstatement as “a defining moment” for Liberia’s tourism journey, asserting that the achievement symbolizes the rebirth of a nation ready to tell its story to the world once again.

“This is a testament to President Boakai’s vision to reposition tourism as a national priority. Liberia’s story is one of renewal, resilience, and rediscovery,” she said.

With this membership, Liberia now stands shoulder to shoulder with its global peers and will, for the first time in 13 years, participate in the upcoming UN Tourism General Assembly a monumental moment that reintroduces Liberia to the global tourism family.

Among the key benefits of full membership are access to global decision-making, world-class training for tourism professionals, and participation in programs centered on sustainability, destination marketing, and policy innovation.

Liberia also becomes eligible for grants targeting community-based tourism, infrastructure development, and cultural heritage preservation.

Through these opportunities, Liberia’s breathtaking coastlines, rich biodiversity, and vibrant cultural tapestry will finally receive global recognition.

The nation’s tourism potential long seen as one of Africa’s best-kept secrets will now be showcased to investors, travelers, and development partners around the world.

The LNTA leadership has pledged to harness UN Tourism’s resources to create jobs, promote eco-friendly development, and unlock new streams of revenue for rural communities.

Tourism, they insist, is not just an industry but an engine for national transformation.

“Tourism is an enabler, a monitor, and an enforcer for growth. Our forests, culture, and creativity are Liberia’s identity and it’s time the world sees them in full color,” the LNTA statement read.

As Liberia’s flag once again flies high at the UN Tourism headquarters, optimism fills the air. The sleeping giant has awakened and with it, a new era begins for Liberian pride, prosperity, and global recognition.