Comments on: The Sierra Leone Guide to Prevention of Tourism http://www.globaldashboard.org/2010/03/01/the-sierra-leone-guide-to-prevention-of-tourism/ Global risks and how to respond to them, edited by Alex Evans and David Steven Sat, 11 Feb 2012 13:49:12 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: recession_day http://www.globaldashboard.org/2010/03/01/the-sierra-leone-guide-to-prevention-of-tourism/comment-page-1/#comment-86466 recession_day Fri, 13 May 2011 11:05:17 +0000 http://www.globaldashboard.org/?p=13016#comment-86466 Isn't it ironic that Sierra Leone is the poorest country in the world, while it has a rich set of natural resources and minerals, including diamonds, which have caused entire countries and corporations to get involved to fight over them? Diamonds are consumer products which cause suffering in the world, like gold, ivory, etc: <a href="http://www.financialcrisisnet.org/forum/Advertising-Marketing/Consumer-products-that-cause-suffering-382743.htm" rel="nofollow">http://www.financialcrisisnet.org/forum/Advertisi...</a> Those who saw Blood Diamonds are familiarized with these concepts: By the way, another product, a banal one, not a luxury one, like ivory or diamonds, is chocolate. Black people in Africa work as slaves. Their job is to pick cacao from cacao trees. You can find some videos about it on YouTube. After seeing it, I couldn't eat chocolate for months. You could search some links to youtube videos about 'blood chocolate', if you want to know what I mean. Isn't it ironic that Sierra Leone is the poorest country in the world, while it has a rich set of natural resources and minerals, including diamonds, which have caused entire countries and corporations to get involved to fight over them? Diamonds are consumer products which cause suffering in the world, like gold, ivory, etc: http://www.financialcrisisnet.org/forum/Advertisi… Those who saw Blood Diamonds are familiarized with these concepts:

By the way, another product, a banal one, not a luxury one, like ivory or diamonds, is chocolate. Black people in Africa work as slaves. Their job is to pick cacao from cacao trees. You can find some videos about it on YouTube. After seeing it, I couldn't eat chocolate for months.
You could search some links to youtube videos about 'blood chocolate', if you want to know what I mean.

]]> By: cricut http://www.globaldashboard.org/2010/03/01/the-sierra-leone-guide-to-prevention-of-tourism/comment-page-1/#comment-30825 cricut Fri, 27 Aug 2010 14:39:27 +0000 http://www.globaldashboard.org/?p=13016#comment-30825 I was watching BLood Diamond yesterday and saw the carnage in Sierra Leone. So the tourists WANT to come but the government wont let them. It is so disheartening that African governments are holding their people back like that. How else do they expect the economies to prosper? I was watching BLood Diamond yesterday and saw the carnage in Sierra Leone. So the tourists WANT to come but the government wont let them. It is so disheartening that African governments are holding their people back like that. How else do they expect the economies to prosper?

]]> By: symond http://www.globaldashboard.org/2010/03/01/the-sierra-leone-guide-to-prevention-of-tourism/comment-page-1/#comment-28914 symond Sat, 14 Aug 2010 03:47:55 +0000 http://www.globaldashboard.org/?p=13016#comment-28914 I appreciate the concern which is been rose. The things need to be sorted out because it is about the individual but it can be with everyone. 0 The above thought is smart and doesn’t require any further addition. It’s perfect thought from my side. <a href="http://smiletravelinsurance.com" target="_blank">Smile Travel Insurance</a> I appreciate the concern which is been rose. The things need to be
sorted out because it is about the individual but it can be with
everyone. 0 The above thought is smart and doesn’t require any further addition.
It’s perfect thought from my side.

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]]> By: Olivia http://www.globaldashboard.org/2010/03/01/the-sierra-leone-guide-to-prevention-of-tourism/comment-page-1/#comment-26704 Olivia Tue, 20 Jul 2010 20:02:29 +0000 http://www.globaldashboard.org/?p=13016#comment-26704 Because it's home. Nowhere is perfect and I'm sure if given the choice no one would choose to live and experience aspects of our country. But this is the reality and someday things will change. Because it's home. Nowhere is perfect and I'm sure if given the choice no one would choose to live and experience aspects of our country. But this is the reality and someday things will change.

]]> By: Anonimus http://www.globaldashboard.org/2010/03/01/the-sierra-leone-guide-to-prevention-of-tourism/comment-page-1/#comment-24653 Anonimus Mon, 07 Jun 2010 21:50:07 +0000 http://www.globaldashboard.org/?p=13016#comment-24653 Sierra Leone is filty and the gutters stink so badly that you can not breath. Stop fooling people that it is a lovely place to visit no !!no no it is not .Why don"t we face the reality by keeping the Country clean to monimise the mosiquitoes and flies before even thinking of anything to do with tourism be real for once. Sierra Leone is filty and the gutters stink so badly that you can not breath. Stop fooling people that it is a lovely place to visit no !!no

no it is not .Why don"t we face the reality by keeping the Country clean to monimise the mosiquitoes and flies before even thinking of anything to do with tourism be real for once.

]]> By: Mark Weston http://www.globaldashboard.org/2010/03/01/the-sierra-leone-guide-to-prevention-of-tourism/comment-page-1/#comment-18978 Mark Weston Tue, 02 Mar 2010 13:15:10 +0000 http://www.globaldashboard.org/?p=13016#comment-18978 Just a quick update and some answers to the above: for Senegal, for example, you don't need a visa at all, let alone have to pay so much for one. The electricity supply in Freetown (the capital of a country rich in diamonds, gold, bauxite etc etc)is anaemic (out in Lumley they have generators). The departure tax is due to go up to $65 this month. And I'm not complaining about the country itself (although most Sierra Leoneans I met did). It's a beautiful place and a great adventure. But if it wants to develop tourism (and it should), it is going about it in the wrong way. Oh, and I realise everything's much more difficult for Sierra Leoneans, but this post was about tourism. Just a quick update and some answers to the above: for Senegal, for example, you don’t need a visa at all, let alone have to pay so much for one. The electricity supply in Freetown (the capital of a country rich in diamonds, gold, bauxite etc etc)is anaemic (out in Lumley they have generators). The departure tax is due to go up to $65 this month.

And I’m not complaining about the country itself (although most Sierra Leoneans I met did). It’s a beautiful place and a great adventure. But if it wants to develop tourism (and it should), it is going about it in the wrong way. Oh, and I realise everything’s much more difficult for Sierra Leoneans, but this post was about tourism.

]]> By: Adam http://www.globaldashboard.org/2010/03/01/the-sierra-leone-guide-to-prevention-of-tourism/comment-page-1/#comment-18976 Adam Tue, 02 Mar 2010 12:09:49 +0000 http://www.globaldashboard.org/?p=13016#comment-18976 What do you expect? It's one of the poorest countries in the world, which was ravaged by a civil war that ended less than a decade ago. The kind of tourist who wants to go is the kind who is up for a bit of adventure. When I worked there, friends of mine came in that vein and had a fantastic time. This is an odd article (for foreign investors I take the point, but again that's hardly unusual). Also - the helicopter doesn't 'regularly crash', there has been one crash in the last five years. This sounds a little bit like astronauts complaining because there wasn't much air on the moon. What do you expect? It’s one of the poorest countries in the world, which was ravaged by a civil war that ended less than a decade ago.

The kind of tourist who wants to go is the kind who is up for a bit of adventure. When I worked there, friends of mine came in that vein and had a fantastic time. This is an odd article (for foreign investors I take the point, but again that’s hardly unusual).

Also – the helicopter doesn’t ‘regularly crash’, there has been one crash in the last five years.

This sounds a little bit like astronauts complaining because there wasn’t much air on the moon.

]]> By: Joe http://www.globaldashboard.org/2010/03/01/the-sierra-leone-guide-to-prevention-of-tourism/comment-page-1/#comment-18971 Joe Tue, 02 Mar 2010 08:54:48 +0000 http://www.globaldashboard.org/?p=13016#comment-18971 This is not only unfair but also inaccurate. - People often complain about visas being expensive, well compared to other countries maybe. However, rightly or wrongly international diplomatic representatives need these funds for their operational activities, so I don't expect the fees to be dramatically reduced any time soon. Some countries are gratis, but obviously not yours. For the records, it's very difficult to enter countries like UK or US, granted Sierra Leone is not UK or US - but its not Turkey either. - I don't know what the visitor requirements are for neighbouring countries, but I know Guinea is no piece of cake. People find this online application easy: http://www.visitsierraleone.org/Services/Visas-and-Entry-Requirements/Visa-Application-Form.html - Regarding the airport. I agree, it's chaotic and I hate it. There's no need for so many people hanging around. The sad thing is it doesn't take much to correct that but its been this way for a while. There is new management for ground operations, maybe it will make a difference. - Regarding transfers - again, inaccurate and dramatic. There have been helicopter crashes in the past, yes. But this is a separate company with a clean record so far and much better crafts. It is expensive yes, but it's the quickest. There are now at least FIVE different options to get to Freetown with. Helicopter, THREE boat services (Sea Coach, Allied Marine and Eco Taxi), and the good old ferry. You could also use a speedboat, though few people want to pay for that. The airport is on the other side of the river. the sooner we all get used to that the better. The problem is not with the location but with the transfer links, but there has been significant improvements in this area. - It is FREE to extend your visitor's visa. You should have insisted if you knew this to be the case. I have found the immigration office to be a lot friendlier than in the past years. - The road network is being worked on and improving significantly. The road to Kenema is now fully tarmacked, Kambia is being worked on, so too the peninsula stretch and soon the road from the airport. - Power is much much better these days. - The only flights that you have to pay airport tax at the airport are the regional flights for example Arik. Even then it's $40 not £50. Frankly, Sierra Leone is no Turkey, Spain or Bahamas. It is still a work in progress and I expect things to improve. PLEASE do your research before coming so you know what you're getting yourself into. There are people who enjoy going to places before it's overrun with tourists and there are those who want the conveniences of a well run and oiled tourist industry. Sierra Leone is not the latter but we are trying. This is not only unfair but also inaccurate.

- People often complain about visas being expensive, well compared to other countries maybe. However, rightly or wrongly international diplomatic representatives need these funds for their operational activities, so I don’t expect the fees to be dramatically reduced any time soon. Some countries are gratis, but obviously not yours. For the records, it’s very difficult to enter countries like UK or US, granted Sierra Leone is not UK or US – but its not Turkey either.

- I don’t know what the visitor requirements are for neighbouring countries, but I know Guinea is no piece of cake. People find this online application easy:
http://www.visitsierraleone.org/Services/Visas-and-Entry-Requirements/Visa-Application-Form.html

- Regarding the airport. I agree, it’s chaotic and I hate it. There’s no need for so many people hanging around. The sad thing is it doesn’t take much to correct that but its been this way for a while. There is new management for ground operations, maybe it will make a difference.

- Regarding transfers – again, inaccurate and dramatic. There have been helicopter crashes in the past, yes. But this is a separate company with a clean record so far and much better crafts. It is expensive yes, but it’s the quickest. There are now at least FIVE different options to get to Freetown with. Helicopter, THREE boat services (Sea Coach, Allied Marine and Eco Taxi), and the good old ferry. You could also use a speedboat, though few people want to pay for that. The airport is on the other side of the river. the sooner we all get used to that the better. The problem is not with the location but with the transfer links, but there has been significant improvements in this area.

- It is FREE to extend your visitor’s visa. You should have insisted if you knew this to be the case. I have found the immigration office to be a lot friendlier than in the past years.

- The road network is being worked on and improving significantly. The road to Kenema is now fully tarmacked, Kambia is being worked on, so too the peninsula stretch and soon the road from the airport.

- Power is much much better these days.

- The only flights that you have to pay airport tax at the airport are the regional flights for example Arik. Even then it’s $40 not £50.

Frankly, Sierra Leone is no Turkey, Spain or Bahamas. It is still a work in progress and I expect things to improve. PLEASE do your research before coming so you know what you’re getting yourself into. There are people who enjoy going to places before it’s overrun with tourists and there are those who want the conveniences of a well run and oiled tourist industry. Sierra Leone is not the latter but we are trying.

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