Sierra Leone | Highlighting its Culture, Cuisine and Deals Globally to Position the Country as a Distinctive Destination

Sierra Leone used culture and cuisine to draw strong interest globally at WTM London 2025, one of the most important exhibitions in the world showcasing a wide range of products and services related to travel and tourism industry that gathered over 5.000 exhibitors and 45.000 visitors in its last edition.  

The African country took the opportunity during this relevant event to advance trade discussions with its delegation led by Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Nabeela Farida Tunis helding meetings, interviews, MoU signings and building strategic partnerships to position the country as a distinctive destination in Africa. 

The government and Sierra Leone National Tourist Board are working to promote sustainable tourism and market the country’s potential as an attractive destination showcasing its vibrant cultural heritage, natural beauty and its delectable cuisine.  

Sierra Leone’s cultural heritage is very rich, home to 16 ethnic groups, diverse ethnic traditions reflected in its languages like Krio, an English - based creole that serves as a lingua franca,  vibrant music, dance, unique masquerades, cloth weaving, and distinctive fashion, known for its creativity, featuring bold prints and flowing fabrics for special occasions. 

Other key elements include historical sites like the Gola - Tiwai Complex, Sierra Leone’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site, a serial property in the country comprising the Gola Rainforest National Park and the Tiwai Island Wildlife Sanctuary, recognized for its exceptional biodiversity, which includes over 1.000 plant species and globally threatened mammals like the Pygmy Hippo and African forest elephant.  

Sierra Leonean gastronomy is a further highlight, known its spicy, flavourful cuisine, include diverse stews jollof rice variants, fufu, a dense doughy food made from fermented cassava that is typically served as a starchy staple with stews, cassava leaf stew, which is considered the national dish, groundnut stew, kankey (dumplings), coastal seafood dishes and the traditional coconut cake, all them reflecting the rich country’s diverse cultural and culinary tapestry.

The Minister said Sierra Leone will host the 3rd UN Tourism Regional Forum on Gastronomy in Freetown next year, expected to elevate local cuisine, attract culinary travellers and support job creation, and highlighted the ministry’s growing use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) with the aim to promote furtermore the country as a distinctive destination and shape visitor experiences.

Link 
https://atta.travel/resource/sierra-leone-spotlights-culture-and-deals-at-wtm-london-2025.html

Chile | Revitalization of the Mapuche and Quechua Languages in the Metropolitan Area to Reinforce Cultural Diversity and Indigenous Heritage

Chile is actively promoting with a program the reviitalization of the Mapuche and Quechua languages in the metropolitan area to reinforce cultural diversity and indigenous heritage in the country. 

Mapuche and Quechua are both indigenous languages of South America, they are distinct language families with different histories and speaker populations, part of of the rich cultural heritage of Chile.

Quechua is a language family with a large number of speakers, mainly in the Andes region and was the language of the Inca Civilization, Also known as “Runa Sumi” (People language),  it spread throughout the Inca Empire becoming the most widely spoken indigenous language in the Americas. it is an agglutinative language where words are built from a basic roots and suffixes that can change meaning. The Quechua has diverse dialects, some of which are not mutually intelligible, and it has had a significant influence on Chilean Spanish and Spanish in other areas where the Inca Empire once was. 

Mapudungun is the language of the Mapuche people, a language isolate primarily spoken in southern Chile and parts of Argentina.It was influenced by Quechua during the Inca expansion showing structural and lexical similarities to Quechua and Aymara, a phenomen attruibuted to a long period of contact and convergence, which can be seen in toponyms (place names) and other vocabulary. The Mapudungun includes dialects like Huilliche spoken in the Los Lagos and Los Ríos regions and Picunche, which is another group within the larger Mapuche macro - ethnic group.
 

During the second half of 2025, more than ten communities in the Metropolitan Area which refers to the Santiago Metropolitan Region, the country’s only landlocked region and its most populous area, located in the central valley, and home of the capital city, Santiago, participate in the “Linguistic Nests”, an initiative promoted by the National Corporation for Indigenous Development (CONADI) and the Academy of Mapuche Language and Culture Urban Context (ALMaCU) that seeks to revitalize Mapuche and Quechua languages and cultures from early childhood.  

The strategy includes kindergartens in communes such as La Cisterna, San Bernardo, Pintana and Puente Alto, where Indigenous Language and Culture Educators (ELCIs) teach traditional words, songs and sounds, also integrating families, as reported by El Ciudadano, a Chilean media outlet.

The National Director of CONADI, Álvaro Morales, stated that the Linguistic Nests revalue the native languages and their worldview, while the coordinator of the project, María Hueicghaqueo, stressed the importance of the language also being lived in homes.

The Linguistic Nests represent an important step in the revitalization of indigenous languages and cultures, in line with the International Decade of Indigenous Languages (2022 – 2032) proclaimed by the United Nations. 

With this joint work between communities, educators and families, in Chile the appreciation of cultural diversity and the strengthening of native identities from childhood are promoted. 

Link 

https://tvbrics.com/es/news/en-chile-impulsan-la-revitalizaci-n-de-las-lenguas-mapuche-y-quechua-en-la-regi-n-metropolitana/

India | Visa On - Arrival Initiative to Strengthen the Country’s Medical Travel Potential Launched

Indian Commerce and Indusry Ministry is promoting the integration of modern medicine with Ayurveda, meaning “knowledge of life”, an ancient system of traditional medicine that emphasizes a balance between the mind, body and spirit, a holistic approach as health that include a wide range of treatments such as dietary changes, herbal medicine, yoga, massage and exercise, a move aiming to position India as a global benchmark in quality healthcare. 

The country launched a visa - on arrival initiative for medical travellers aims to entry easier for patients from eligible countries by allowing them to obtain a 60 - day visa upon arrival at designated airports such as Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Mumbai

Key features of this initiative include eligibility for purposes such as tourism, business, and medical treatment, and potential for a double - entry facility at the discretion of the immigration office. 

This move supported by a broader vision is expected to strengthen the country’s sector with the aim  to establish India as a global healthcare hub of relevance.

At the 22nd CII Annual Health Summit in New Dehli,Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal highlighted this initiative will significantly enhance the country’s appeal as a medical travel destination.

The Minister emphasized that India stands on the verge of becoming a global hub for quality healthcare and called on key stakeholders to work collaboratively to realise this vision, also highlighting the government’s broader social agenda, including initiatives that ensure affordable heathcare and promote inclusivity  as reported by Indo - Asian News Service (IANS), a private Indian news agency based in New Delhi.

Calling for collaboration among hospitals, the Minister urged the healthcare industry to expand nursing capacity by at least 100.000 professionals to meet both domestic and international demand, stressing that the importance of maintaining a balance between serving Indian citizens and international patients. 

Secretary at the Ministry of Ayush, Vaidya Kotecha, underscored the role of Ayurveda in advancing holistic healthcare, encouraging hospitals to integrate Ayurvedic treatments and wellness programmes alongside mod ern medical practices, highlighting the global rise in demand for such therapies.

The Secretary added that globally Ayurveda, along with detoxification, yoga and holistic wellness programmes, has become increasingly popular among high - end international clients who visit India, seeking comprehensive, restorative are.

Experts observed that India is well - positioned to become a leading hub for medical travel, with far reaching benefits for employment and allied industries.

Link 

https://tvbrics.com/en/news/visa-on-arrival-initiative-to-strengthen-india-s-medical-travel-potential/