By Amanita Sameena Sesay
Some 600 participants in a motorcade of 250 Vehicles and 350 Motor Bikes in the Budapest-Bamako Rally will arrive in Freetown as their finishing line this weekend, the second time the event is hosted by Sierra Leone.
Director of Tourism, Mohamed Jalloh told Journalists during the weekly Government press briefing in Freetown that it is the largest amateur vehicle rally that creates room for people all over Europe to participate in Africa’s biggest humanitarian event.
He explained that they will enter Freetown through Kambia on the 6th November and move to Masiaka town where they will spend the night, before moving to Bureh Beach on the 7th for a carnival to celebrate their coming.
Jalloh stated that it is because of Sierra Leone’s long standing peaceful and hospitality nature that enables the country to host this year’s rally and project a positive image to the world through the international media.
Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Memunatu Pratt stated that the country has what it takes to be the world’s best tourist destination by putting herself at the top globally, since she said tourism is now being used to promote international development.
She said hosting of the rally has helped the country to be well- recognized.
Pratt pointed out the rally has a humanitarian cause beneath it, as it creates many benefits such as medical donations, auctioning of their vehicles and exchange of the Leone through buying of foodstuffs and souvenirs which will automatically boost the economy of the country as was seen during the last hosting of the group.
She said in preparation for the event, the ministry has organized a best beach bar competition amongst bar owners, to encourage them make their businesses attractive.
The minister appealed to all Sierra Leoneans to work together in providing the visitors a peaceful and welcoming environment.
The last rally was in 2020 which Sierra Leone hosted for the first time after the event was shifted to Freetown because of the security challenges facing Mali, the event’s traditional finishing line.
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