By Yunus S. Saliu
The Gambia Hotel Association (GHA) held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, at the Sunset Beach Hotel in Kotu.
The event, held in line with the association’s constitutional mandate, brought together member hotels and was graced by the Honourable Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC).
The AGM served as a platform to review the association’s activities, achievements, and challenges in 2024, and to collectively propose solutions for issues affecting the tourism and hospitality industry in The Gambia.
In her opening address, GHA Chairperson, Ms. Hayat Blell, reaffirmed the association’s commitment to its strategic priorities, the main among them, being a strong and effective voice for its member hotels and promoting the prosperity of The Gambia’s hotel industry through advocacy, engagement, and value-added services.
She noted that the GHA Secretariat, based at Djembe Beach Hotel, continues to provide reliable administrative support and participated in numerous stakeholder consultations throughout the year.
According to Ms. Blell, GHA’s influence continues to grow as it represents its members on several national platforms and decision-making bodies. These include the Tourism Diversification and Resilience Gambia Project (TDRGP), a World Bank initiative, where GHA sits on the Project Steering Committee, Technical Working Group, and Matching Grant Financial Committee. The association is also a member of the Governing Council of the Gambia Tourism Board, the Food Safety and Quality Assurance Board, the Department of Labour Board, and the OIC 2024 Organising Committees, among others.
She informed members that in the third quarter of 2024, the association submitted a position paper to the Minister of Tourism highlighting key challenges in the sector. “The Ministry has since engaged constructively, regularly providing feedback and updates on efforts to address our concerns,” she added.
Ms. Blell also outlined various initiatives GHA undertook during the year. Capacity building remained a priority, with several training sessions delivered in partnership with PUM Netherlands, Gambia Tourism Board (GTBoard), Gambia Tourism and Hospitality Institute (GTHI), and the TDRGP.
In the area of corporate marketing and promotion, she noted that the GHA website had been updated with new content and visuals from member hotels. The association also collaborated with GTBoard and Royal Air Maroc to host familiarization (FAM) trips showcasing Destination Gambia.
Internationally, the GHA represented Destination Gambia at global platforms, including the World Travel Market (WTM) in London, as part of efforts to increase tourist arrivals and strengthen the country’s visibility in key markets.
On regional engagement, Ms. Blell highlighted a significant rise in visits from Senegalese student groups, many of whom were accompanied by parents attending their closing ceremonies. She noted that the Minister of Tourism commended GHA’s efforts to expand this market and supported it with food donations for the students. A special “Meet & Greet” event was held at Bakadaji Hotel to honour the initiative.
The Chairperson also announced progress on the association’s future head office, revealing that land has been allocated along the Bertil Harding Highway. She reported steady progress, with regular meetings held by the Technical Committee to ensure transparency and effectiveness in the project’s execution.
At the end, Ms. Blell expressed gratitude to all members for their continued commitment and contributions. She encouraged unity, solution-oriented thinking, and optimism as the association works toward building a stronger and more resilient hospitality sector in The Gambia.
