By: Isatou Sarr
A cruise ship carrying about 300 tourists of different nationalities Monday docked at the Banjul seaport.
This is part of Gambia’s efforts to boost cruise tourism despite infrastructural challenges at the port.
The vessel, identified as the Silver Dawn Cruise Line, docked at the Banjul terminal with passengers mainly from Austria, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Speaking to journalists at the port, Ebrima A.K. Sanyang, Senior Research and Development Officer at the Gambia Tourism Board, described the arrival as the smallest cruise passenger intake recorded for the 2026 season.
He explained that the tourists were being handled by a local ground tour operator, Gambia Tours, which was coordinating excursions to various tourist sites across the country.
Mr. Sanyang noted that cruise tourism continues to play an important role in the country’s tourism industry because of the large number of visitors such vessels can bring into the country at once.
“This is actually the lowest cruise passenger arrival we have recorded this season. Sometimes we receive vessels carrying 700 to over 1,000 passengers in a single arrival,” he said.
According to him, The Gambia recorded 6,230 cruise passenger arrivals in 2025, while 2,194 arrivals have already been registered so far in 2026.
He however acknowledged that infrastructure limitations at the Banjul port continue to affect the country’s ability to attract larger cruise vessels.
“We have larger vessels that would want to come to Banjul, but the space and infrastructure here remain a challenge,” he explained.
Mr. Sanyang disclosed that the Tourism Board is exploring strategies with partners aimed at improving infrastructure to accommodate bigger cruise ships in future.
He added that cruise tourism benefits different sectors of the economy, including the Gambia Ports Authority, local tour operators, craft markets and small businesses.
“As long as the vessel is here, it generates income for the seaport, tourism operators and local vendors,” he said.
He also revealed that the ship experienced delays before docking because another cargo vessel was occupying space at the port.
Meanwhile, craft market vendors from different parts of the country gathered at the port to sell locally made products to the tourists, many of whom paid in foreign currency.
Entertainment groups, including the police band, were also present to welcome and entertain the visitors upon arrival.
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