By Fatoumatta Gassama
The Ministry of Tourism and Culture on Monday hosted its first ever National conference, held at the Kairaba Hotel.
The conference that finished on Tuesday was aimed to review, evaluate the successes and challenges experience during the winter of 2018-2019 tourism seasons, and plan for the upcoming winter seasons 2019-2020.
Speaking at the conference, minister of tourism and culture, Hamat NK Bah, said “since the change of government the tourism and culture sector has registered a remarkable progress in enhancing sectoral contribution towards The Gambia economic growth and increment of employment opportunities.”
According to him, in 2017-2018, The Gambia recorded two hundred and nine thousand visitors describing the number the highest.
Meanwhile, he noted that government has recruited Gambians as destination managers to showcase the true history of The Gambia for the young ones that are coming.
“Our own citizens can tell our own story for national interest because national pride is important in a country. Gambians must recognized achievement and knowledge,” he said.
Hon. Bah also said that government has taken measures to ensuring that lands located to investors and infrastructure in the TDA enhanced through the development of pedal roads, and improved street lighting.
He said “ over 35 application has being notify for the construction of four 5 star hotels has being received, which will increase in new refurnished high class hotels will assist and accommodate which is an significant increment in the number of hotels in the country.”
He said “we must protect our land properly for the unborn”; this he said our land sized will never increase and the TDA is reserves to manage the next 50 years because the way people are grappling lands cannot continued, while also sitting others countries the way they protecting and preserve their lands.
Bah acknowledging the ministry of Trade for the remarkable participation of Gambians in investing in the tourist industry sector has increased, adding that the country cannot accept people selling randomly as they one.
“Finally step has being taken to enhance and assure new hotel classification and standard document, upcountry tourism facilities has being assessed and renovation has being carried out in part of the country, encouraging Gambians to build 5start hotels in upcountry because Gambian are never a tourist in their own country,” Bah said.
Mai Ahmed Fatty, Special Advisor to the President, described tourism a key sector in Gambia’s economy saying it provide social order through employment.
He added that the security is vital and must be put in consideration, security of and life and tourism sites must be protected.
Lamin Jobe, Minister of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration and Employment said tourism play a significant role in service sector and leading foreign exchange earner in economy, and strong promotional campaign and diverse 800hundred recruiting products in medium and long terms.
He added that the dialogue is important because tourism has being progressing season by season, adding that tourism is a major contributor in providing employment because it offers opportunities for business men and women who deal in special basic commodities.
He said Tourism is a good outlet for the small industries upcoming while doing also urging them to help the local industries, adding that his ministry has provided support to the marketing committee for promotion campaign to diversify tourism market and nontraditional market and support the tourism hospitality institute.
“To ensure continued development of the sector to propelled economic growth and employment generation in the economy,” he said.