Kebba Ansu Manneh
Hamat N.k Bah, Minister of Tourism and Culture has embarked on a European tour to engage major tour operators, especially in the United Kingdom ((UK)), where he held meetings with officials of the Gambia Experience, British Airways, and The Elders of The Gambian Community based in the UK to increase flight frequency in The Gambia.
Reliable sources close to the Ministry of Tourism and Culture, revealed that the purpose of the European tour is to review and strengthen existing relationships with tour operators as well as establish new relationships with major tour operators ahead of the 2022/2023 tourists season.
One senior staff at the tourism ministry who preferred to remain anonymous said the trip is geared toward restoring the tourism industry to normalcy after the devastating efforts of the Covid-19 pandemic that paralyzed the sector, adding the Minister and delegates’ engagement will go a long way to restoring confidence among tour operators as well as assuring them about the safety and security of visiting the country.
“I believe this is the best thing the Minister and team can do in their efforts to attract tourists into the country after experiencing continuous off-season since 2019 when Covid-19 gripped the industry. Meeting major tour operators will surely open doors for the country in terms of increasing tourist arrivals into the country and also open doors for many hotels to open for business,” our source disclosed.
He added: “To be honest the tourism minister is not relenting on its laurels to attract tourists back to the country irrespective of the global developments. Under his leadership the Gambian delegation attended the WTO and OIC Summit and is currently embarking on a European tour, these are great marketing opportunities that can pay dividends in the short, medium, and long-term.”
Another source working at the Ministry of Tourism confirmed the European Tour, Minister Bah is currently embarking upon, hinting that the Minister has had discussions with top officials of Gambia Experience, Thomas Cook, and British Airways in the Ministry’s frantic efforts to increase the number of flights coming from the UK.
Efforts to speak with the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Tourism and Culture, Madam Kordu Jabang Senghore to shed light on the Minister and his delegation’s official mission to Europe were futile.
However, Gtboard has earlier written on its Facebook page as thus: “The honorable Minister of Tourism and Culture embarked on a European outreach mission where he met Gambia Experience, British Airways, and Gambian elders in the UK.
Some discussion points included but were not limited to encouraging British Airways (BA) to start flying to the Gambia, increasing flight frequencies from Gambia Experience, and special fares for the Gambians in the diaspora,” Gtboard disclosed Minister’s visit on its Facebook page
It added: “The Honourable Minister of Tourism and culture presented certificates of recognition to the Gambian Elders in the UK. We had great support from Mr. Suntu Touray of the Gambian Embassy and the entire staff of the Embassy in the UK.”
The Minister’s visit culminated with growing concern about the fate of the next tourism season that thousands of Gambians are anxiously waiting to return to the industry that they demand to make back to the industry that they demand on to make their living.
