(Sliepa Source 3)
The Tourism sector in Sierra Leone has become one of the top priority sectors due to the vast improvement demonstrated over the years, with the huge inflow of foreign direct investment and improvement in quality and standards by our domestic investors in this sector. Sierra Leone is definitely back on the map as a tourist destination, with the surge in the number of tourists visiting Sierra Leone annually, and we have slowly gained back the momentum with the influx of International Brands with the likes of Hilton and Radisson Blu investing in our tourism sector.
As is most commonly described, Sierra Leone is the best kept secret destination for Tourism investment and is blessed with wonderful people with mixed culture and stronger acceptability for religious tolerance. The people are generally known for their reputation of friendliness, thoroughly cordial and hospitable towards visitors and are always genuinely happy to provide helpful assistance such as allowing strangers to lodge with them when needed.
The tourism exploit is blessed:
- With 360 km coastline of beautiful, un-spoilt white sand beaches
- World –Class regime fishing with record setting tarpon catches
- It Coastal beautiful city of Freetown is only 3 hours away from Lagos, Africa’s largest city, 8 hours away from the US, and 6 hours from Europe
- 18 national heritage sites linked to sierra Leone’s rich past of both the slave trade and as a home for returning slaves
- 31 protected areas with unique wildlife including pygmy hypos, chimpazess, jungle elephants, and many species of birds
Our wide range of tourism assets includes :
Bunce Island: Built in the 17th century, the island was the major collection point for slaves destined for Europe and the Americas .
Sport Fishing: Record breaking sport fishing of tarpon off Sherbro Island
Ecotourism: Some of the premier locations in West Africa, including Tiwai Island, Outamba Kilimi National Park, Tacaguma Chimpanzee Sanctuary and the Gola Forest
Freetown: Founded in 1787 as the “Province of Freedom” and with a fundamental characteristic of mixed heritage (eg, Old Fourah Bay College), with vibrant nightlife & social scene
Lakka
Close proximity to Freetown, potential to participate in the corporate/business demand of the city, great out of town location for conferences
Tokeh
Vast expanse of soft white sand, ideal location for a larger-scale full service resort catering to the individual traveler and tour operator markets
Tacaguma
Locally owned and operated, home to dozens of rescued and abandoned chimps that are being prepared for release
Outamba-Kilimi
A diverse area of rolling hills, grasslands, flood plains and rainforests that is home to a rare collection of elephants, hippos, leopards,primates and birdlife
Tiwai Island
Island located in the middle of the Sewa River. It has 11 species of primate with over 135 different bird species and is home to the rare and elusive pigmy hippo
No. 2 River
The setting of the ‘Bounty’ candy bar adverts going back to the 1970s, this stunning setting is serviced by a community run organization
“River No 2, with its mountainous backdrop and glittering oceanic horizon, rivals anywhere on earth for breathtaking coastal grandeur…” – The Observer
Some Facts and Figures on the Tourism Industry
The tourism sector contributed $36.3 million as revenue in 2011! Showing a huge climb as of $27.1million in revenue contributed in 2010 demonstrating and increase of 36.2% (Credit: National Tourist Board of Sierra Leone, 2012)
Government incentives applying specifically to the tourism sector:
- Where for the purpose of an Approved Development as defined by the Development of Tourism Act 1990, by way of constructing a new hotel, extending, restoring or renovating an existing hotel; or any tourist facility or amenity, with a minimum number of rooms for hotels established in the Western Area of 50 ensuite bedrooms and 10 ensuite bedrooms for the rest of the country.
- These incentives shall not be available to Night Clubs, Casinos and Restaurants unless they are an integral part of an eligible hotel.
- Import building materials, machinery and equipment, linen, cutlery, glassware, chinaware, furnishing attract import duty rate of 0% for three years. Taxpayers would be allowed to elect the three years when they would be eligible for the duty free importation.
- Relief from income tax in such manner and for such period not exceeding five year and in any case shall not extend beyond 2015 and, however, that such relief shall not apply to the extent that the total amount during the tax holiday period exceeds one hundred and fifty per centum of the original capital invested.
- Capital allowances on any asset in respect of which qualifying expenditure as defined under the Seventh Schedule to the Income Tax Act has been incurred by any person wholly or exclusively for the purpose as set out above shall be computed and deducted from the profits or income of that person arising from such business in accordance with the provisions of the Seventh Schedule to the Income Tax Act relating to capital allowances.
| Purpose | HOLIDAY | Visiting | BUSINESS | CONFERENCE | OTHER | TOTAL |
| Friends/Relatives | ||||||
| TOTAL | 11,146 | 9,483 | 18,480 | 5,337 | 7,996 | 52,442 |
| 2012 | 7,728 | 5,156 | 12,803 | 4,208 | 8,720 | 38,615 |
| VARIANCE | 3,418 | 4,327 | 5,677 | 1,129 | 724 | 13,827 |
| Regions | AFRICA | ASIA | AMERICA | MIDDLEEAST | EUROPE | AUSTRALIA& OCEANIA | Total | |
| ECOWAS | NON-ECOWAS | |||||||
| TOTAL | 11,054 | 4,598 | 5,360 | 10,474 | 2,485 | 13,807 | 3,664 | 52,442 |
| 2012 | 7,838 | 2,968 | 3,516 | 7,406 | 2,667 | 10,295 | 3,925 | 38,615 |
| VARIANCE | 3,216 | 1,630 | 1,844 | 3,068 | 818 | 3,512 | 261 | 13,827 |
2011 also witnessed the long awaited arrival of a mega-cruise ship that brought in approximately 1000 tourists facilitated by KTI Tours and Visit Sierra Leone.
