EplerWood International has completed its report for the World Bank Foreign Investment Advisory Committee on the redevelopment of the tourism economy in one of the poorest nations in the world, Sierra Leone.

The company recommends an ambitious plan for tourism redevelopment which will:

• Conserve 40 kilometers of pristine beaches, mountains and rivers via a public-private development corporation that takes charge of an environmental master plan for tourism development
• Restore an historic slave castle by developing an ambitious philanthropic campaign which highlights the castle's strategic importance in the history of slavery in the United States
• Develop ecotourism in rural areas that have been left without economic options together with two protected areas in cooperation with local communities
• Develop a food enterprise program that helps local people in urban areas to develop micro-enterprises that will service the Freetown hotel industry

Tapping the Social and Environmental Responsibility Economy
The EplerWood International report for the World Bank finds that post-conflict countries like Sierra Leone face enormous barriers to investment for the development of tourism, but by tapping more patient and socially motivated capital that forges business and social agendas they may have better success.

Sierra Leone and other African nations can set the stage for more economic development by proactively conserving their natural environment and preserving their cultural and historic heritage as primary steps to developing sustainable tourism. Megan Epler Wood will be presenting these results at the Tourism Africa conference on September 15th in Geneva, Switzerland.

A final report on Tourism Prospects for Sierra Leone will be announced on our website, along with new developments and projects being undertaken by EplerWood International in October 2006.