By Yunus S. Saliu
The Gambia Tourism and Hospitality Institute (GTHI) is committed to offering world-class training and development in the tourism and hospitality sectors, ensuring its graduates meet the highest industry standards. Reflecting on its achievements in 2024, the Institute is proud of the progress made in enhancing training quality, expanding its curriculum, and strengthening industry partnerships. However, challenges remain, particularly in addressing gaps identified during the year and securing more comprehensive resources for students.
In 2024, GTHI launched a new, dynamic curriculum with the support of the Tourism Diversification and Resilience of The Gambia Project (TDRGP). This curriculum revision aims to better align the Institute’s offerings with global trends and the evolving needs of the tourism industry, equipping students with the necessary skills to thrive in an increasingly competitive market. The Institute’s scholarship scheme was also expanded to ensure that deserving students, both locally and internationally, can access top-tier education without financial barriers.
Beyond academics, GTHI has embraced its social responsibilities, actively participating in community projects that contribute to sustainable tourism development.
Looking ahead to 2025, the Director General of GTHI has emphasized the Institute’s commitment to building on these successes by expanding training offerings, fostering new industry partnerships, and enhancing facilities to provide an even more comprehensive learning experience.
Achievements in 2024
In 2024, GTHI made significant strides in curriculum development and teaching expansion, with support from the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture (MOTAC) and funding from the Tourism Diversification and Resilience Project (TDRGP).
The Institute began construction on an expanded training kitchen, which will allow for a greater number of students and improve the training environment to meet increasing demand.
One of the Institute’s most notable achievements was its contribution to reducing unemployment within the hospitality industry. GTHI has become a key provider of qualified staff, catering to both domestic and international job markets.
Additionally, the Institute developed a long-term redevelopment plan to ensure its future as a regional center of excellence. This strategic plan, which includes consultations and recommendations for holistic improvements, positions GTHI as a digital hub for tourism and hospitality education.
GTHI also increased its student intake by 100% in 2024 to address the growing demand for qualified personnel, particularly following a large-scale exodus of hotel staff and the recruitment drive by cruise lines. This expansion has turned the Institute into a key source of skilled hospitality staff, with numerous hotels, companies, and recruitment agencies from within and outside The Gambia sourcing talent from GTHI.
Addressing Labor Market Challenges
While the Institute’s efforts to increase student intake are commendable, they have also placed a strain on the domestic labor market. Many hotels are struggling to retain their staff, which has led to increased pressure on GTHI to train as many students as possible to fill the gap. As part of a national effort, the Institute has been tasked with meeting this demand, with plans to graduate over 500 students in the certificate program alone by July 2025.
The MOTAC decentralization policy has also contributed to the Institute’s growth. GTHI’s annexes in Janjanbureh and Farafenni, which serve the Central River, Upper River, Lower River, and North Bank regions, are helping to expand the reach of its training programs and graduate more skilled and competent students.
Training and Scholarships
Since 2016, GTHI has trained cohorts of students in various disciplines, thanks to the support and collaboration of organizations such as ITC and YEP. The Institute operates in multiple regions, with over 160 students trained annually in Farafenni and Janjanbureh, and more than 260 professional bakers who graduated from Basse in 2024 through a collaboration with Gambia College.
As a recognized center of excellence for the sub-region, GTHI attracts students and job recruiters from Sierra Leone, Ghana, Nigeria, Guinea-Bissau, and other countries. The Institute offers scholarships to international students from these countries, as well as to local students facing financial difficulties.
Support and Partnerships
GTHI’s primary sponsors in 2024 included the Government of The Gambia and the Tourism Diversification and Resilience of The Gambia Project under the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture. The Director General of GTHI, Momodou Lamin Singhateh, expressed gratitude for the support provided by TDRGP, which not only funded curriculum revisions and the development of 18 new training programs but also helped build the capacity of staff to deliver these programs. Additionally, TDRGP facilitated international training opportunities for staff, including participation in the Network of Innovative Hotel Schools in Berlin.
New Curriculum
The revised curriculum, set to be implemented in 2025, includes programs in tourism management, tour guiding, eco-tourism, and a range of short courses such as cost control, customer care, and health and safety at work. This new curriculum is part of GTHI’s commitment to providing relevant, high-quality education that meets the needs of the global tourism and hospitality industry.
Challenges
Despite its achievements, the Institute faced challenges in 2024, particularly the loss of staff to cruise ship companies. Many applicants sought better job opportunities abroad, drawn by the promise of higher salaries and international experience. While this has put pressure on GTHI, it is also seen as a positive development for the Institute and the country, as it showcases the high standard of training offered at GTHI.
Expectations for 2025
Looking ahead to 2025, GTHI is optimistic about its prospects, having ended 2024 on a high note with significant growth in student intake. Completion of a new professional training kitchen is expected to further enhance the learning experience for students, with each student having access to an all-inclusive workstation.
The Institute’s new strategic plan, which is set to be rolled out in 2025, is a four-year plan aimed at strengthening GTHI’s position as a leader in hospitality education in the sub-region.
Corporate Social Responsibility
GTHI continues to uphold its commitment to corporate social responsibility. The Institute provides scholarships to qualified needy students and collaborates with NGOs and women’s voluntary organizations, offering financial and logistical support. Additionally, GTHI opens its facilities for community events, furthering its role as a socially responsible institution in The Gambia.
By focusing on expanding its capacity, improving its curriculum, and fostering strong industry partnerships, GTHI continues to be a key player in developing a highly skilled workforce for The Gambia’s tourism and hospitality sectors, while positioning itself as a center of excellence for the entire sub-region.
