According to Josephine Wawira, a consultant at Jumia Travel, Tourism is one of the largest sectors in Africa, contributing approximately 3.3% to the total Sub-Saharan Africa GDP, and forecast to grow, in terms of GDP contribution by 5.2% between 2016-2026 in the same region.

Various stakeholders have contributed to this growth, among them Non-governmental organizations. Although it has both positive and negative impact.

The followings are the different major roles which NGOs have played in developing Hospitality industry in Liberia

THE NEGATIVE IMPACT
DRIVING SUSTAINABLE TOURISM

Due to the continuous growth and influx of tourists into the continent, the industry has at some point been criticized for various negative impacts on the environment. These include increased pressure on the natural resources, people displacement by investors in search for more land to develop, sex tourism and illegal mining. 

Some NGOs have come in handy to salvage the situation, for instance acting as watchdogs and lack of tourism policies by Liberia governments and other organizations that are detrimental to the environment.

POSITIVE IMPACT
PROMOTING RURAL TOURISM

While most tourist destinations are based in rural areas such as Elizabeth Village in Grand Bassa County, Blue Lake in Bomi County and Sabo Park in Saneo County . It is obvious that most of the host communities hardly benefit from tourism proceeds. In this regard, NGOs like United States (USAID) , Concern Liberia, EDUcare , Plan International, to mention but few, have played a prominent role in increasing rural development, since they often work at the grassroots level. 

They are also frequently involved in innumerable community-based development programs such as infrastructural development that not only benefit tourists but the locals as well.

"VOLUNTOURISM" 

Voluntourism or volunteer travel has become popular in Liberia , as more people seek to do short term volunteer work, while at the same time partaking in tourism and exploring local destinations especially during the civil War and Ebola pandemic . 
Most of these volunteer opportunities are provided by either local or international NGOs, thus attracting more tourists into Liberia.

CONFERENCE TOURISM

With most of them organizing major conferences that bring together thousands of participants, NGOs majorly play a role in Liberia's conference hospitality. The hospitality sector is especially a major benefactor, due to the massive accommodation and catering services required during the conferences

FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT

A 2016 UNCTAD report (United Nations Conference on Trade and Development), indicates that Africa recorded an increase in flow of foreign direct investment (FDI) of more than 25% compared to the previous years. NGOs have in their part made numerous investments in Liberia, especially by funding various development related projects.

EMPLOYMENT

While undertaking the above-mentioned projects, there requires manpower to ensure success and continuous development. NGOs that are proactive in engaging local communities have thus created employment in various positions both in the managerial and junior levels. This has helped Liberia in tackling the ever-challenging high rate of unemployment particularly among the youth.

CULTURAL INTEGRATION

NGOs are said to have a common value of integration and diversity. This calls for the inclusion of all regardless of ethnicity, religion, culture, disability, gender, and nationality. The organizations therefore act as a converging ground for different cultures, thus promoting cultural integration.

 Taking into consideration the above roles, the positive impact outweigh the negative impact .DVLL concludes that NGOS had played a major role in hospitality industry in Liberia.