By Yunus S Saliu
As cruise ship jobs become more sought-after in Destination Gambia, the Director of Operation of Cruise Ship Crew Gambia (CSCG) has described the pivotal role Cruise Ship Tourism plays as a catalyst for economic growth and job creation in the country.
Taking into consideration some of the people, especially youth now craving to work with the cruise ship, Mr. Musa Drammeh, Director of Operation of the Cruise Ship Crew Gambia disclosed that not only the people but also the country is standing chance to reap the benefit of Cruise Ship Tourism which is now becoming more popular in destination Gambia.
The CSCG Operation Director noted that one of the benefits of Cruise Ship Tourism is job creation, especially since the government has launched a youth employment strategy targeting to create 150,000 jobs in the next five years or so “and CSCG is complementing government efforts on this.”
According to him, there are more job opportunities on Cruise Ship for people who are ready to work noting that his agency is given a slot to recruit 5000 cruise ship workers every year, a figure that is hardly met in a year.
Notwithstanding, he said this tourism contributes significantly to any country’s economy and creates sustainable development opportunities.
“Among other opportunities of Cruise Ship Tourism that the country and people can benefit from is that it generates revenue from passengers as they spend in any country’s shore when the ship stops or berth during the excursion,” he pointed out.
Explaining further, “it boosts local businesses and services and the inpouring of tourists from the cruise ship is not limited to only one sector to benefit thus its economic impact spreads across. “
Specifically, at CSCG, “we create employment opportunities for people to work in the cruise ship. The government is making a lot of efforts but cannot do it all alone. So having us to recruit 5000 units for a cruise ship in a year to work for six months and come back to their home country for holiday is great.”
Among enormous opportunities for cruise ship employees or workers when they are on the vessels include but are not limited to 95% of the things they need are free for them, 90-95% of their earnings return with them back to their home country, while the vendors, too, are also reaping the benefit of cruise ship each time one is dock or berth.
The Gambia Tourism Board, Mr. Drammeh affirmed, is working tirelessly at large to increase the number of cruise ships to the destination.
“There are a number of them transit Destination Gambia, which among them are Alamara Cruise Line, Silversea Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, and AIDA.”
