Liberia Tourism Authority introduces ‘talent tax’

April 8 2026

The Liberia National Tourism Authority (LNTA) has announced the rollout of a nationwide Registration, Inspection, Classification, and Star Rating exercise targeting tourism, cultural, and creative enterprises across the country.

The initiative, which begins in Montserrado County, will run from April 7 to May 8, 2026, marking the first phase of a broader national effort to regulate and standardise the sector.

As part of the new framework, the Authority stated that musicians, actors, and dancers will be required to pay an annual licensing fee of US$25, while content creators will pay US$50.

In an official statement, the LNTA said the exercise is “undertaken in line with the LNTA Act of 2025 and aligned with ECOWAS Tourism Accommodation Standards, with the objective of strengthening compliance, improving service quality, enhancing safety standards, and promoting professionalism across Liberia’s tourism sector.”

Authorized inspectorate teams will carry out extensive assessments, including verification of registration and licensing, as well as inspections of sanitation, safety, environmental, and operational standards. Customer service levels will also be evaluated through spot checks.

Additionally, accommodation establishments will be classified and assigned official star ratings ranging from one to five stars, based on both national and regional criteria.