The Liberia National Tourism Authority (LNTA) has introduced new yearly license fees for tourism and creative industry workers, including hotels, restaurants, beaches, entertainers, and content creators. The rules start in April 2026.

While the government says it will help organize the sector, many people think the decision was rushed and not needed because similar rules already exist.

A new system has introduced yearly fees for businesses in tourism, hospitality, and entertainment.

Luxury hotels will pay the most: $2,000 for five-star hotels with casinos, $1,500 for four-star, and $1,000 for three-star hotels. Smaller places like guest houses and motels will pay about $200.

Airbnb-style rentals are also included. Big properties pay around $1,000 a year, while smaller ones pay about $200.

Beach facilities will pay between $100 and $500, and nightclubs can be charged up to $500 yearly.

Restaurants, fast food spots, and coffee shops will pay $150 to $200, while small local food vendors will pay about $50.

Liberia’s Tourism Authority has introduced new annual fees for travel, transport, and entertainment businesses.

Airlines and travel agencies will pay between $1,000 and $2,000, while local travel operators will pay $200 to $500. Transport services like car rentals and cruise operators will also be charged the same range.

In the creative industry, big events like Miss Liberia will pay up to $5,000 yearly.

Smaller pageants will pay $150 to $2,000, while festivals and fashion shows will pay $750 to $1,500, and creative groups will pay $60 to $200, content creators $50, and performers $25.

The new policy has caused backlash. Many creators say the fees are too high because they are not making much money online.

Comedian Rose Alice Ahmar said creators already struggle to earn from platforms like Facebook in Liberia, and joked she might even sell her page to avoid the fees.

Lyee K. Bility, CEO of Bilikon Entertainment, says a new policy from the Liberia National Tourism Authority (LNTA) could hurt the creative industry.

He believes the government is asking creators to pay fees too early, without first giving enough support like copyright protection and stable income.

He also says there is confusion about which agency should handle these rules, and that stakeholders should have been fully consulted first.

However, LNTA Director General Princess Eva Cooper disagrees. She says the policy is not new but an update of older rules that were already in place under the Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism.

She also says the LNTA held meetings and public discussions before announcing it.

She explained that the fees only apply to people who make money from their content, not all creators.

According to her, the goal is to follow international standards, improve the creative and tourism sectors, and increase government revenue.

The LNTA also says it has created a special unit to keep talking with creators and industry groups.

The LNTA says it has consulted people and set up a team for engagement, but critics are still not satisfied. They believe not enough people were included in the discussions.

They also warn that adding new fees without proper support could hurt the already weak creative industry.

The debate shows a bigger problem: how to control the sector without stopping growth, and how to support tourism and creativity in Liberia without holding it back.