Hamat N.K Bah, Minister of Tourism and Culture has issued warnings to local authorities in rural part of The Gambia to reserve more lands and desist from sales of lands that can only attract short term profit, observing that decentralization of tourism facilities and infrastructure in rural Gambia can only be possible with the availability land.
The Minister of Tourism made this disclosure to host of Alkalos, Chiefs and Governors across the country during a visit to tourists attractions, facilities and heritage sites within the country, hinting that if the people of the rural communities failed to jealously guard their lands the crisis in urban areas many spread to their communities.
“I want to appeal to you to reserve your lands and desist from selling your lands, selling these lands will only generate short term benefits for you. I want to appeal that if people come here and give you keys to a four-wheel drive-in exchange for lands reject it, the vehicle will only serve you one or two years and is gone and your general left landless,” Hamat Bah, told rural authorities.
He added: “It is your duty to protect these lands for the benefit of your kids as well as generations yet unborn. It is important to safeguard these lands for future development and I believe our plans for tourism decentralization and development cannot be possible without the availability of lands in the rural areas.”
Minister continues to warn that if care is not taken to preserve lands in the rural areas a replica of what exists in the urban areas may surface in the rural areas, advising that local authorities must ensure that lands in rural areas are put to judicious use rather than for short term gains.
“Right now we (tourism authorities) are difficulties in acquiring lands in Brikama, where we intend to build a five star hotel because we can’t get any land for this project anywhere around there. We want to avoid such situations in the rural areas because in as much as we want to expand tourism development in the rural part of the country land must be available,” Bah echoed to rural dwellers.
Abdoulie Hydara, Director General of Gambia Tourism Board (GTBoard) expressed similar sentiments of the minister, revealing that it is part of his institution’s plans to attract hotels in the rural part of the country.
“It is part of our plans to attract construction of a hotel in each region of the country. GTBoard will encourage investors to construct either three or four- or five-star hotels in each region of the country and this cannot be possible without lands,” said DG Abdoulie Hydara.
He added: “In as much as we have the desire to decentralize tourism, the issue of land and environment are key ingredients. We are therefore encouraging local authorities to help in preserving and protecting these natural gifts.”