By Yunus S Saliu
The Gambia Tourism Board (GTBoard) has continued its efforts to promote tourism awareness at the grassroots level through outreach initiatives aimed at educating young people about career opportunities in the sector.
On Thursday, the Board’s Marketing Unit held a Tourism and Hospitality Career Day for students of the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) at the institution’s premises along MDI Road in Kanifing.
The programme aimed to inspire and inform students about the wide range of career prospects in the tourism and travel industry. It brought together students and lecturers and featured keynote presentations from GTBoard officials, who highlighted The Gambia’s tourism potential and the Board’s role in developing the sector.
The interactive session gave students the opportunity to ask questions and gain deeper insights into the industry. Many participants described the initiative as a unique and valuable experience since the school’s establishment.
Speaking during the event, Ebrima A.K. Sanyang, Senior Officer for Research and Development at GTBoard, described tourism as a “vast and dynamic industry with numerous career pathways.”
He explained that the outreach programme seeks to guide students in identifying potential career opportunities within the sector. “Many students complete their training without a clear understanding of the career options available to them,” Sanyang said.
He added: “We want students to understand that studying tourism opens doors to many opportunities. Apart from employment in hotels and travel companies, they can also become entrepreneurs by creating tourism-related products and services, promoting destinations, and using social media platforms to market their ideas.”
Sanyang noted that the initiative forms part of a broader educational campaign conducted by the Board in institutions including the University of The Gambia and the Gambia Tourism and Hospitality Institute (GTHI). The programme has also engaged students in several senior secondary schools to introduce tourism as a viable career path early.
He emphasized that preparing skilled professionals is essential for maintaining high service standards in the tourism sector, particularly in hospitality operations, food and beverage services, and customer care. Sanyang also highlighted the importance of collaboration between hotels, tour operators, and training institutions to strengthen the sector.
Meanwhile, Edrisa Gibba, Head of School at YMCA Tourism and Hospitality School, expressed appreciation for the programme, calling it “timely and necessary.” He noted that many students enroll in vocational training without fully understanding the career opportunities available. “Career days like this help them understand the different paths they can take after completing their training,” Gibba said.
Gibba revealed that this was the first time the school had hosted such an outreach activity with GTBoard and expressed hope that the collaboration would continue.
Students who attended also welcomed the initiative. Sainey Badjie said the programme provided practical insights into roles within the hospitality industry, including housekeeping, reception, and food and beverage services. Isatou Camara commended GTBoard and the school management for motivating students and preparing them for careers in tourism.
The Tourism and Hospitality Career Day is part of GTBoard’s broader strategy to strengthen human resource capacity in the tourism industry while encouraging young Gambians to explore career and entrepreneurial opportunities within one of the country’s key economic sectors.
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