By Kebba Ansu Manneh
Stakeholders in the tourism industry have joined forces with others to condemn the alleged coup d’etat in the strongest terms stressing the illegality or any force to change the regime in the country that will derail progress registered in the tourism industry as well as scare tourists and visitors alike from visiting the country.
The statement followed an attempted coup d’etat planned by seven (7) non-commissioned officers of the Gambia Armed Forces (GAF).
“Am totally against any forceful change of the regime at this hour of the tourist season, it doesn’t speak well for the country.
The attempted coup d’etat will have an impact on the tourism industry as it will tell everybody that the country is not safe,” said Sheikh Tijan Nyang, doyen and former director of Gambia Tourism
He added: “Any attempted coup d’etat will derail progress registered in the tourism industry. A lot of efforts have been going on to put the industry back, any attempted coup d’etat will bring a negative impact on the recovery progress of the industry.”
Kebba Makumba Njie, President of Gambia Tourism Federation (GTF) also reacted and condemned any attempt to effect a change of government, noting that the news of a coup d’etat in the country can scare tourists from visiting the destination and will invariably, goes a long way to derail the recovery process of the industry.
“We received the news of the attempted coup d’etat with grave shock and dismay. Any attempted coup d’etat will no doubt scare tourists from visiting our country. Looking at all the investments incurred by the state to recover from the damages of the covid-19 pandemic as well as the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, it is totally out of order to stage any coup d’etat in the country,” said Kebba Makumba Njie.
He pointed out that Gambians and non-Gambians depend on the tourism industry for their livelihoods whose jobs will be affected.
“We’re calling on all and sundry to desist from any negative vices that may be a threat to the tourism industry of the Gambia,” he said.
