Sierra Leone Tourism Investment
The investor campaign for three de-risked eco-tourism sites: the website, outreach to 40,000 investors, a live government webinar, and matchmaking with partner projects.
- Client
- Ministry of Tourism, Sierra Leone · World Bank SLEDP
- Role
- Website, outreach, webinar and investor matchmaking
- Year
- 2025
- Practice
- Software
At a glance
- Client
- Ministry of Tourism, Sierra Leone · World Bank SLEDP
- Starting point
- The Government of Sierra Leone had finished building three flagship eco-tourism sites with the World Bank: the core infrastructure and fit-out were paid for, so operators would need no capital investment to run them.
- What we built
- The investor campaign for three de-risked eco-tourism sites: the website, outreach to 40,000 investors, a live government webinar, and matchmaking with partner projects.
- Focus
- Investor outreach, Website, Webinar, Public sector
- Client: Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Government of Sierra Leone
- Programme: World Bank Sierra Leone Economic Diversification Project (SLEDP)
- Partners: National Investment Board (NIB)
- Market: International and local investors
The Government of Sierra Leone had finished building three flagship eco-tourism sites with the World Bank: the core infrastructure and fit-out were paid for, so operators would need no capital investment to run them. What it needed next was the right operators. Gott Data ran the investor campaign end to end.
The three sites
- Bureh Beach Surf Club: a surf and leisure hub on one of West Africa's most celebrated beaches, with the surf club, jetty, boardwalk and market sheds complete.
- Leicester Peak Viewing Point: 270° views over Freetown and the Atlantic from 564 metres, with a 2.5 km paved access road, eco-friendly parking and a 1,700 m² viewing platform, inside the Western Area Peninsula National Park.
- Tacugama Innovation Center: an eco-education and conservation centre next to the Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary, built to become West Africa's leading conservation tourism destination.
What we did
- The investor website. We designed and built invest-sl.gottdata.is: the three sites, the operations-only lease model, investor incentives and the bidding process, with registration for the event and access to the project briefs.
- Outreach to 40,000 investors. A targeted outreach campaign to around 40,000 potential investors and operators, internationally and in the region.
- The live webinar. We produced and hosted the investment webinar on 4 November 2025, with Hon. Nabeela Tunis, Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs; Mary Jalloh, Project Coordinator of SLEDP; and Dr. Edward Hinga Sandy, Executive Director of the National Investment Board, followed by a live Q&A.
- Matchmaking. We connected interested investors with the partner projects in Sierra Leone and followed up with each of them.
The model we were selling
Initial investment from the Government of Sierra Leone and the World Bank covered all core infrastructure and essential fit-out: buildings, roads, utilities and key equipment. Operators bid on operations-only lease contracts and focus on running the sites from day one, which removes the largest barrier to entering a new tourism market.
"We have fully de-risked these projects by completing all strategic infrastructure investment; we are now inviting the best private sector partners to join us in building a sustainable and profitable tourism future for Sierra Leone through operational excellence." Hon. Nabeela Tunis, Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs
