By Yunus S Saliu
About forty selected participants for the NinkiNanka Trail Responsible Toursim Standards and Branding Consult and launching of Tourism SMEs ICT Support training program Friday embarked on a familiarization trip along river Gambia. The familiarization trip was part of the package of the just concluded NinkiNanka Trail Responsible Toursim Standards and Branding Consult and launching of Tourism SMEs ICT Support training program.
The four-day NinkiNanka Trail training program was organized by the Youth Empowerment Project (YEP) in collaboration with the Gambia Tourism Board (GTBoard) and fully sponsored by the Youth Empowerment Project.
The training program held from 19th to 22nd June was meant to use community-based responsible tourism in rural regions along the river as a vehicle for poverty reduction, empowerment of host communities and diversification of Gambian tourism product.
And also, among other things to engage the local guides and tour operators in a collaborative approach to develop the NNT as a responsible tourism branded product for The Gambia, develop knowledge and skills in responsible tourism guiding and interpretation required for the NNT, develop knowledge and skills in digital marketing and branding. Participants for the training program were selected from members of tour operators, guides and communities representatives.
During the fam-trip participants were able to visit among other places along the river Gambia with boat Jamali, Jangjangbureh, Kuntaur, Njaw, Kaur, Morgan Kunda and also participated in bird watching interpretation exercise, responsible guiding and tour operator, NNT product interpretation and local/visitor cultural guidelines.
Gareth Jenkins, Branding Specialist – YEP described the destination as an incredibly unique and very powerful destination. He expressed his surprise about the Gambia especially on “the quality of the nature, culture, history, and the wonderful communities that make it very strong package in terms of branding taking from the responsible tourism product view.”
He disclosed that within a while he has gathered a lot of information here on destination Gambia on what makes the places visited different and why they should be attractive to visiting tourists. He added that in comparison with what he has seen in other places, in The Gambia “I found people here incredibly motivated, the quality and the energy to help the people inspiring both in believe in The Gambia and desire to do provide great opportunity for the tourists.”
Reacting to the training program, Lucy McCombes, Consultant for the project explained that many people are familiar with the word – NinkiNanka which is a mystical oral legend about dragon living in river Gambia and with lots of really interesting stories link with nature, culture and community-based products existing along the river Gambia.
The NNT, she said, is ambitious and a long trail involving lots of communities and lots of stakeholders and “there is lots that need to be done and we are really working hard to make it happen, because it is a great opportunity.”
So far the impression on the NNT, she said the unique selling points – it is beautiful, understanding diverse culture of The Gambia, often tourists come and just see Gambia culture so it is a chance to really understand the diversity and “we have discovered some really lovely places above all NNT is a rising star that can have a lot of support for the Gambia Tourism Board.”
