Elephants cross the plains of the Boma-Jonglei landscape in South Sudan.[Photo by Paul Elkan and Jeremy Gustafson]

South Sudan Ministry of Wildlife, Conservation and Tourism, and African Tourism Board are set to host a conference in Juba in 2024 to showcase the country’s tourism sector potential to the world.

On Thursday, the Ministry signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the African Tourism Board, signaling a game-changing alliance to redefine tourism in South Sudan and across the African continent.

The deal with the continental tourism agency seeks to promote South Sudan as a prime tourist destination, leveraging the country’s rich biodiversity, cultural heritage, and unexplored landscapes.

The strategic partnership is expected to shine a global spotlight on South Sudan, attracting travelers from around the world.

Executive Chairman of Africa Tourism Board, Cuthbert Simphiwer Ncube, said they will provide an opportunity that will contribute to showcasing what South Sudan can offer to the international arena.

Simphiwer said they are planning a conference that will attract enormous participants this year, to showcase South Sudan’s tourism potential.

“Before the fundamental program during 2024 calendar year, we said, we are creating a conference here that will bring all participants. We need the investment fraternity to come so that we can show what we have here in South Sudan,” Simphiwer said.

“This will provide opportunities that will contribute to showcasing the great positive page of what South Sudan can offer to a domestic, offer to our regional, offer to our continental and over to our global travelers.”

South Sudan has the world’s second largest animal migration and one of the world’s largest wetlands – the Sudd, with which the country is considered a good place for ecotourism.

However, the tourism sector continues to face numerous challenges including conflicts, sporadic violence, and the presence of armed groups that deter tourists and affect the country’s perception as a safe travel destination, according to experts.