By Kebba Ansu Manneh
The Minister of Tourism and Culture has disclosed that the Gambia Tourism industry is on the right path for recovery, revealing that 53 flights will be arriving at Banjul International Airport weekly to boost the industry.
Speaking on Tuesday in his office, Honorable Hamat N.K Bah said 16 chartered flights and 37 scheduled flights are landing in the country.
He added that major airlines namely, Correndon, TUI UK, Gambia Experience, TUI Holland, TAP Portugal and Vueling airline have all started operations after ceasing operations during the Covid-19 period.
The Minister further disclosed that seven scheduled flights had also started operating fully in the country during this 2021/22 winter tourist’s season.
He added that the airlines that had started operations included Air France, Air Peace, Asky, Air Senegal, Trans Air, Royal Air Moroc, Turkish Airline and Brussels Airline.
Bah revealed that Rainbow Airline and Binta Canary Airline were expected to start operations in the country soonest.
He emphasized that the Ministry of Tourism and Culture would continue to work with all its stakeholders towards restoring confidence and tourism growth for destination Gambia.
He pointed out that his ministry, stakeholders, hoteliers, international tour operators, Small and Medium Enterprises in tourism paved the way for the reopening of the tourism industry following the shutdown by Covid-19 pandemic with the arrival of chartered flights for the first time, especially the daily arrival of Air France.
According to him, among measures deployed by the Gambia Tourism Board to win the confidence of customers is the vaccination of tourism sector workers, disclosing that at least three Covid-19 testing centers have been created in collaboration with the Ministry of Health.
Minister Bah noted that three feeder roads within the tourism development area in West Coast Region (WCR) were currently under construction, noting that these are Tamala-Kunta Kinteh access road, Senegambia Football Field towards Mansea Beach Hotel, Golden Seafront and Lemon Creek access roads.
He gave the assurance that the Ministry of Tourism and the Gambia Tourism Board would do all it takes to improve infrastructure and lightening systems within the tourism industry.
He noted that these were key ingredients for development of the tourism industry to attracting more investors into the country.
He emphasized that the Gambia government placed high premium on the development of the tourism industry, arguing that the industry continued to be a major player in the socio-economic development of the country thus creating jobs and employment opportunities for the teeming youthful population of the country.