By Yunus S Saliu
The Minister of Tourism and Culture (MoTC), Hamat NK Bah has used Day 4 and 5 of the tourism facilities tour to visit different sites, lodges/guest houses and hunting camps across the tourism development area known as TDA3 Western River, TDA6 North Coast, and TDA7 Kiang West.
The Minister engaged proprietors of each facility he in a brief meeting to gauge their constraints on area that they need assistance of his ministry and institutions under his tutelage.
Minister Bah who was taken round on conducted tour of visited facilities pointed out some of the shortcomings observed both in term of environment, health, safety, accommodation, service delivery, staff welfare. Also, the Minister advised those whose accommodation or camp are below standard to quickly improve on it otherwise they might be closed down to enable them carry out maintenance and proper good service delivery as quality demands.
The Minister however underpinned the importance of good standards and encouraged proprietors in upcountry to continue maintain standard and good service delivery as the government plans according to the National Development Plan is to expand tourism to the upcountry for everyone to benefit.
Among the visited facilities in upcountry (CRR, LRR, URR) included Pachonki Mosque in Sami, GTHI Annex in Janjangbureh, Kankurang Museum Centre, Janjangbureh, Janjangnbureh Historic Tour Sites, proposed Ninki Nanka Camp, Bintou Paradise Lodge, Sotuma Samba Koi, Agib and Swiss Guest Houses, Tambasansang Fort and Fodaykunda Camp.
At the GTHI Annex Dauda Niang Director General of Gambia Tourism and Hospitality Institute prior a conducted tour of the institute disclosed that GTHI Annex started in 2019 noting that they started the expansion program in the provinces to promote tourism and culture.
“For several years GTHI has been conducting training in the Greater Banjul Area and for the first time in 2019 the institution extended to Janjangbureh as “we started the expansion programme in the provinces to promote tourism and culture.”
Omar Sey Deputy Governor Central River Region who represented the Governor of the Region outlined important of tourism and culture and potentials of the community. He therefore seized the opportunity to call on all stakeholders in the tourism sector to continuing invest in the sector.
Meanwhile in Janjangbureh, Abdoulai Hydara Director General of Gambia Tourism Board responded to issues raised in Janjangbureh concerning the tour guides that normally accompany tourist from the Greater Banjul Area to the historical Island. He assured the official trained community based tour guides of addressing the issue as soon as possible.
Accompanied the Minister in this ongoing tourism facilities tour are chairmen GTBoard and GTHI board of directors; NCAC board members, Director Generals of GTBoard, GTHI, NCAC; National Assembly member – selected member of tourism committee; Officer Commanding of Tourism Security Unit – TSU; Permanent and deputy permanent of MoTC and senior officials of the three institutions.
