LIBERIAN AGRICULTURE AND TOURISM FACT SHEET
AGRICULTURE – PRODUCTS:
Rubber, coffee, cocoa, rice, cassava (manioc, tapioca), palm oil, sugarcane, bananas; sheep, goats; timber
LABOR FORCE – BY OCCUPATION:
Agriculture: 70% Industry: 8% Services: 22% (2000 est.)
EXPORTS – COMMODITIES:
Rubber, Timber, Iron, Diamonds, Cocoa, Coffee
EXPORTS – PARTNERS:
China 24%, US 15.3%, Spain 11%, Algeria 6.5%, Thailand 4.5%, Malaysia 4.1%, France
4% (2012)
NATURAL RESOURCES:
Iron Ore, Timber, Diamonds, Gold, Hydropower
ENVIRONMENT – CURRENT ISSUES:
Tropical Rain Forest Deforestation; Soil Erosion; Loss of Biodiversity;
Pollution of Coastal Waters from Oil residue and raw sewage
ENVIRONMENT – INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS:
PARTY TO: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Hazardous Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Marine Life Conservation
SOURCE: CIA FACTBOOK
UNEXPLOITED POTENTIAL IN “ANCESTRY” AND “ROOTS” TOURISM
Before the civil war, Liberia received large numbers of tourists from the US due to its reputation for peace and stability, its tropical climate and beautiful beaches and its English-speaking population. Liberia’s economy, including the travel and tourism industry, was badly damaged by the civil war, and has yet to recover. However, as the demand for genealogy tourism increases, Liberia is set to once again become a favorite tourist destination for US visitors, especially African-Americans, due to its unique history as the first black African republic and also as a haven for freed black American slaves during the 19th century. Many high-profile US stars such as Oprah Winfrey have traced their ancestry back to Liberia.
Source: http://www.wtmlondon.com/library/Travel-and-Tourism-Liberia