By Yunus S Saliu
Taken into consideration the recent happenings in the tourism industry in The Gambia, even before the Covid-19, the tourism stakeholders across the country have come together and formed the Tourism Federation of The Gambia (ToFGAM).
Giving an insight about the formation, Sheik A Tejan Nyang, Secretary General of the newly formed ToFGAM said the increasing recognition of the role of tourism in sustainable development and the need to advocate for the 2030 agenda for sustainable development goals in tourism has called for a united tourism voice to deal with the challenges the industry is facing both in The Gambia and globally.
In Gambia tourism industry, he said before Covid-19 there were other challenges happened such as Ebola, the 2016 political impasse and the collapse of Thomas Cook airline.
“Given such a reality, tourism stakeholders come together to form the Tourism Federation of The Gambia (ToFGAM),” he asserted.
Sheikh A Tejan Nyang who is also Head of Institute of Travel and Tourism of the Gambia stated that for years now there were consultations on forming such a federation like it is in other African Countries – Senegal, Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya and so on “without success.”
Given the realities of Covid-19 crises, he said stakeholders finally concluded at a recent meeting held, Saturday, 5th November, 2020, on the formation of the ToFGAM.
However, the meeting brought together over eight associations and allied services to form the federation and it is expected that a number of other associations will eventually join the group.
The nominated and elected member to for m the governing council include Mr Kebba Njie of Tourism and Travel Association of The Gambia as President, Mrs Haddy Ngum of the Gambia Restaurants, Bars and Nightclubs Association as Vice Chairperson, Mr Edris Bensouda of the Restaurants, Bars and Nightclubs Association as Treasurer, while Sheikh A Tejan Nyang of Institute of Travel and Tourism of the Gambia is the Secretary General and Adama Bah was selected to serve as adviser to the Federation.
Other executive members include Modou Cham of The National Tourist Guides Association, Ebrima Jaiteh of The Tourist Taxi Drivers Association and Pa Mbye of the Craft Market Federation.
The formal launching of the Federation is expected to be held in January 2021 at a date to be announced soon, by The Minister of Tourism and Culture, Honorable Hamat NK Bah.