By Yunus S Saliu
The Minister of Tourism and Culture Thursday laid the foundation stone of a new four star hotel, D K Jawara Resort in Barra, North Bank Region.
The construction of the hotel is born out of the partnership between the Gambia Tourism Board (GTBoard) and National Centre for Arts and Culture (NCAC) to promote domestic and heritage tourism in the country.
Speaking prior the laying of the foundation stone of the resort, Honorable Hamat NK Bah expressed his delight to lay the foundation stone of the project been earlier conceived and now become reality.
To actualize the government’s policy and programs, he said the Gambia Tourism Board took it upon themselves to take tourism beyond Banjul and Serrekunda, KMC and Brikama but to every part of the country.
“By making sure that the policies and programs of the Adama Barrow’s government, that is, taking tourism beyond Banjul and Serekunda to other parts of The Gambia becomes a reality and by promoting domestic tourism infrastructure must be put in place,” he noted.
The Minister asserted that they cannot tell when tourists will start coming from abroad to the country as today tourism worldwide is facing an unprecedented challenge “that we do not know when it is going to end and we have no idea as to when the world is going to defeat Covid-19 or when Covid-19 will be fair with us.
The tourism and travel industry is in trouble therefore tourists coming from abroad can only come if it is safe to come and in as much as we want tourists to come we will not sacrifice the interest, the safety and well being of The Gambia people.”
Minister Bah however noted that developing this infrastructure is a guarantee that Gambians can travel within their own country to explore and know their country.
Among other significance of the project, he highlighted that it is a joint efforts of the GTBoard and NCAC knowing full that the site of the project is a UNESCO Heritage Sites recognized internationally by UNESCO which makes it a win-win situation.
More so, Honorable Bah assured that the D K Jawara Resort is just begin as five more other will be built across all other regions within twelve months.
Governor of North Bank Region, Ebrima Dampha applauded the government of The Gambia through Minister of Tourism and Culture.
He underscored the importance of the ongoing development under President Adama Barrow’s administration which he described as unprecedented.
He therefore appealed to the contractor to contract people of the community and the region for the job to enable them benefit from the project.
Mr Mendy, Managing Director of the Lerr Group, Alkalo of Barra, chief of Lower Niumi also made remarks while Chairpersons of NCAC, GTBoard, Councilors, DPS, Directors and officials of MoTC, NCAC and GTBoard, Imams, VDC chairman among others VIPs witnessed the ceremony.
Meanwhile, the D K Jawara Resort project is situated at Barra Point closer to the Fort Bullen. It is a forty room’s 4-star hotel. The resort facilities included standard studio and suites, kitchen, bar, restaurant, lounge bar, reception area with lounge, parking, swimming pool and administrative offices.