Monrovia President Joseph Boakai has ordered the Liberia National Tourism Authority (LNTA) to suspend its recently announced fee structure, signaling a pause in implementation following mounting criticism from stakeholders across the tourism and creative sectors.
The President’s directive, issued amid growing concern from industry players, calls for further consultation and review to ensure that any new fee regime aligns with Liberia’s tourism development goals without imposing undue financial pressure on operators.
The proposed fees—initially scheduled to take effect in April 2026—triggered widespread debate among hoteliers, restaurant owners, beach operators, and creative professionals, many of whom described the policy as rushed and potentially duplicative of existing regulatory frameworks.
Under the plan, a broad range of businesses and individuals—including hotels, entertainment centers, transport providers, and creatives such as musicians, actors, dancers, and content creators—would have been subjected to new annual licensing charges.
The fee structure, signed by LNTA Director General Princess E. Cooper and endorsed by Finance and Development Planning Minister Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan, was intended to standardize revenue collection across the hospitality, entertainment, cultural, and creative industries.
However, critics argued that the new charges risked overburdening already struggling businesses and overlapping with fees imposed by other government entities.
President Boakai’s intervention is being viewed as a step toward recalibrating the policy through broader stakeholder engagement. Authorities say the LNTA will now conduct additional consultations and is expected to provide guidance on possible revisions to the fee structure.
The move underscores the administration’s stated commitment to fostering a more enabling environment for tourism growth while balancing regulatory oversight with the sustainability of private sector actors.
