The project involves the development of an integrated tourism destination in Salima, comprising a 100-room resort hotel, a 1,000-seat conference centre, sporting facilities, a shopping and entertainment complex, a casino, a golf course with a residential estate, and an aquarium. The objective is to create a modern leisure, business and entertainment hub that enhances visitor experiences while supporting inclusive economic growth. Located approximately 130 km from Lilongwe, Salima benefits from strong road, rail and water transport connections, making it well positioned as a regional tourism and investment centre. The project will diversify Malawi’s tourism offering by introducing new attractions and activities that encourage longer visitor stays and increased spending. It is also expected to generate employment, stimulate local businesses, improve living standards for surrounding communities, and support the Government of Malawi’s vision of developing Salima into a major urban and tourism destination.
Project overview
Investment opportunity
The project offers investment opportunities in hospitality, leisure, entertainment and real estate development through a mixed-use tourism destination in Salima. Opportunities include resort operations, conference facilities, retail and entertainment assets, golf and residential development, and supporting tourism infrastructure. Investors will have the opportunity to participate in a flagship destination designed to strengthen Malawi's tourism sector and support long-term regional growth.
Investment types sought
Project status
Development stage
Feasibility & due diligence
Current status / progress to date
Preliminary project planning and concept development have been completed. The project is progressing through feasibility and due diligence stages, with further technical assessments, project structuring, investor engagement and financing mobilisation planned as the next steps.
Additional project information
- Lead agency
- Ministry of Industrialisation, Business, Trade and Tourism
Expected impact
Economic & development benefits
- Attracts domestic and international visitors, increasing tourism revenues and foreign exchange earnings
- Creates employment and income-generating opportunities across tourism, hospitality and related sectors
- Supports local businesses and helps reduce rural-to-urban migration through expanded economic opportunities
- Generates tax revenues and wider economic benefits for Government
- Strengthens destination infrastructure and stimulates growth across supporting sectors, including agriculture, transport and financial services
Climate & resilience benefits
- Strengthens climate resilience by ensuring tourism infrastructure is designed to address rising lake levels and climate-induced flooding
- Reduces exposure to shoreline erosion through the integration of protective infrastructure and risk mitigation measures
- Supports climate-resilient land use planning through compliance with national spatial zoning requirements
- Avoids development in high-risk flood zones, reducing potential losses from climate-related hazards
- Enhances the long-term sustainability and resilience of tourism infrastructure along the Lake Malawi shoreline
Contact
Contact team
For more information about this project, please contact the Commonwealth Investment Platform team.