By Yunus S Saliu
The Minister of Tourism and Culture has defended his beef-about statement whereby he said ‘tourism is dead’ at the emerged of coronavirus pandemic in The Gambia.
Minister Hamat NK Bah made the statement barely a month after the destination recorded its first coronavirus pandemic case which has caused many countries to closed their borders, lockdown of the travel, and tourism space around the world. While government of The Gambia closed all its borders and airspace from all flights except for medical cargo flights on 23rd March to curb the spread of the pandemic in the country.
This statement, according to many stakeholders was referred to be ‘controversial’ been declared so soon. Also, many claimed that tourism sector in The Gambia, in the past, has witnessed different obstacles which include Ebola pandemic, the political impasse, Thomas Cook Group ceased trading among others but all overcome with times.
However, Honorable Hamat NK Bah, Minister of Tourism and Culture in an interview defended this statement saying “we said it was dead because nothing was happening.”
He said had it been he didn’t say that by now many of the stakeholders will be having issues with their creditors who will be knocking their doors to collect their monies.
“If I don’t say that the creditors will start asking for the debts owing them by their debtors and banks can follow them and possibly close their businesses since they owe,” Minister Bah explained.
He explained further that “there are some statements (actions taken) that one can say or said that ordinary man outside there might not know or understand, but having good implication in other aspects of it, that’s the situation.”
Whatever, he assured that they will bring it (tourism) back from its dead situation to live especially now that arrangement is at the final stage to resume tourism session in the upcoming winter tourism season start in October.
However, the Minister of Tourism and Culture statement becomes talk-about after an interview with one of the online platforms, The Fatu Network, following his decision that entire GTBoard staff should ‘stay at home’ and they ‘will be paid half salary’ because ‘tourism is dead.’
