By Yunus S Saliu
Taking the tourism sector to a higher height, the International Tourism Investment Limited and Cape Beach Hotel Limited and Global Development at TUI Blue Hotels LLC on Friday, 9th June 2023 endorsed hotel management and technical services agreements.
The signing of the agreements of the hotel management and technical services was held at the Tamala Beach Resort in The Gambia and was presided over by the Minister of Tourism and Culture Hamat NK Bah. Many cabinet ministers which include Minister of Petroleum and Energy – Hon Abdoulie Jobe; Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs – Hon Seedy Keita; Minister of Communications and Digital Economy – Hon Ousman A Bah; and Minister of Interior – Hon Seyaka Sonko among different stakeholders in the likes of GHA, GTBoard, bankers all witnessed the occasion.
Participated online virtually to witness the signing ceremony were Artur Gerber, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer at TUI Blue Hotels Betriebsgesellschaft MbH; Jano Martin, Managing Director and Chief Financial Officer at TUI Blue Hotels Betriebsgesellschaft MbH; Mirko Fritsche, Operations at TUI Blue and TUI Hotel Betriebsgesellschaft MbH; Nikolaus Kallmann, Commercial Law Holiday Experiences at TUI AG; Charl Nel, Director Development at TUI Blue Hotels LLC’ Thess Bada, Financial Manager at TUI Blue Hotels LLC and Leonie Langen, Office Manager at TUI Blue Hotels LLC.
Meanwhile, Messrs Malleh Sallah and Omar Jawara Managing Directors signed the agreements on behalf of the International Tourism Investment Limited and Cape Beach Hotel Limited while Mr. Wesam Okasha Managing Director and Head of Global Development signed on behalf of Global Development at TUI Blue Hotels LLC.
Speaking before the signing of the agreements, Hon Hamat NK Bah, Minister of Tourism and Culture said the presence of cabinet ministers at the signing ceremony has demonstrated the type of government the President of the Gambia His Excellency Adama Barrow is leading in the development and promotion of tourism in destination Gambia.
Hon Bah said when there are more tourists to the country many things are affected positively in terms of monetary, job creation, sales, and so on.
The signing of the agreements, he said, marked another important day in the country’s tourism evolution because TUI is one of the biggest tour operators in the world.
The Minister applauded Global Development at TUI Blue Hotels LLC for their interest in the destination Gambia and commended Messrs Malleh Sallah and Omar Jawara Managing Directors of the International Tourism Investment Limited and Cape Beach Hotel Limited for their smartness, intelligence, experience, and hard work in their achievements and making the country proud.
He, therefore, congratulated them for always making the country proud while describing them as one of the biggest Gambian tourism investors in the country “and one of the youngest that believed in partnership in the country.”
Minister Bah finally assured the partners of his ministry and President Adama Barrow-led government support to enable them to continue to grow bigger “while we are ready to welcome TUI to the destination anytime and do the needful for you to succeed and make you to always be in the Gambia, The Smiling Coast of Africa.”
In his remarks, Mr. Wesam Okasha Managing Director and Head of Global Development expressed delight as he declared it a big day of signing two contract agreements. He applauded the presence of members of the cabinet Ministers in attendance and those witnessed online virtually across the globe.
Speaking online virtual from Germany, Artur Gerber, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer at TUI Blue Hotels Betriebsgesellschaft MbH also alluded to the first speaker saying it is a big day for both parties to sign the agreements.
He said his company has decided to join The Gambia in the business for the next coming years with full hope for the partners to be successful and bring them to other markets while he welcomed the new partner to their world.
Mr Malleh Sallah Managing Directors of International Tourism Investment Limited and Cape Beach Hotel Limited expressed pleasure in having a group of Ministers led by the Minister of Tourism and Culture to the ceremony saying it is a clear manifestation of the importance of tourism to the country.
He said tourism contributes massively to the country’s economy and it is the highest private employer in the country, “we are happy to have you here.”
He said the partnership between the Global Development at TUI Blue Hotels LLC and International Tourism Investment Limited in retrospective Tamala Resort and Kotu Point Hotel is about two projects which is a new phase for tourism in The Gambia without any doubt.
About the partner, he said TUI Blue who has branded hundredths of hotels in the world chose The Gambia as a destination to be because “we are having a beautiful country with beautiful people, peace and stability including beautiful products which is a good testament.”
Hon Ministers of Petroleum and Energy – Hon Abdoulie Jobe; Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs – Hon Seedy Keita; and Minister of Interior – Hon Seyaka Sonko all made remarks and assured them of the authorities’ support.