By Yunus S. Saliu
The Gambia Tourism Board (GTBoard) officials and partnering agency and tour operator on Friday welcomed the latest arrival of the Azamara cruise ship, Azamara Quest docked at the Gambia Ports Authority over 600 tourists disembarked for a short visit to different communities in the country. The guests were entertained by a group of cultural performers as part of the GTBoard traditional way of welcoming visitors and tourists to The Smiling Coast.
Azamara, headquartered in Miami, Florida, USA, is renowned for its global cruise offerings. Azamara Quest is a mid-sized ship that provides an intimate experience, never crowded, yet equipped with everything modern travelers seek, along with some unexpected extras.
Whenever the ship docks in Destination Gambia, it draws crowds not only because of the ship’s grandeur but also because of the significant benefits it brings to the local area, especially the vendors that display their items for sale.
The Gambia, known as “The Smiling Coast of Africa,” has greatly benefited from the increasing number of cruise ships visiting its shores. These visits continue to boost the country’s tourism sector.
Leading the team to receive Azamara Quest, Ebrima AK Sanyang, Senior Officer of Research and Development at GTBoard, highlighted the vital role of cruise ships in The Gambia’s tourism and economy. He emphasized that cruise ships are one of the key transportation modes for tourists visiting the country.
Recently, the Gambia Tourism Board, in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture, led a promotional mission to Miami, Florida, to position Gambia as a top cruise destination. Similar promotional efforts were also carried out in Senegal. According to Sanyang, these initiatives have led to a steady rise in the number of visitors arriving in Gambia by cruise.
During this ongoing season, over 18,400 tourists have visited The Gambia by sea, with 7,864 of them arriving via cruise ships. This figure excludes the 607 tourists who disembarked from Azamara Quest in Banjul, where they will explore the country before continuing their journey.
Bakary Gassama, Councilor for Jokadou Dasilami, reiterated the council’s commitment to promoting inclusive participation in development and protection.
