By Yunus S. Saliu
The Gambia Tourism Board (GTBoard), in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC), has hosted a delegation of Senegalese tourism operators as part of efforts to strengthen cross-border cooperation and promote regional tourism.
The delegation from the Collective des Acteurs du Tourisme au Sénégal (CATS) arrived in The Gambia on September 1st for a weeklong educational and networking familiarization tour of Destination Gambia.
The delegation comprises representatives of several Senegalese tourism companies and travel agencies, including Africa For Tourism, Universal Tours, Planète Découvertes Voyages, Amira Tours, Guide Communication Consultant, Al Manzil, Cacahuet, CTA Incentives and ASTP.
The tour is taking the delegation to tourism destinations and attractions across the country, alongside stakeholder engagements and guided visits aimed at increasing knowledge of The Gambia’s tourism products.
The initiative is also expected to encourage tourism operators in both countries to develop joint cross-border packages and promote the sub-region as a competitive tourism destination.
The visit follows a recent working mission by MOTAC and GTBoard to Senegal to promote Destination Gambia among Senegalese tourism operators and explore opportunities for closer regional collaboration.
As part of the programme, the CATS delegation participated in a business-to-business (B2B) networking session with Gambian tourism stakeholders on Thursday at the African Princess Hotel.
Speaking at the event, GTBoard Director General Ida Jeng Njie welcomed the delegation, describing the visit as an important opportunity to deepen tourism cooperation between The Gambia and Senegal.
She recalled a meeting between Gambian tourism authorities and Senegalese stakeholders in Dakar several months ago, saying it had provided an important platform for advancing regional tourism cooperation.
According to Njie, the familiarisation tour is designed to provide Senegalese operators with firsthand information on Destination Gambia, facilitate business networking and promote the country as a Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) destination.
She also highlighted the range of tourism experiences available in The Gambia and encouraged investors to explore opportunities in the sector.
The B2B session provided tourism operators from both countries with an opportunity to exchange ideas, identify business opportunities and explore the development of joint tourism products.
Other speakers included CATS President Yousouph Diallo, Khadim Gueye, Gambia Hotel Association (GHA) Chairperson Hayat Bilel and GHA Executive Secretary Marion Nyang, alongside representatives of the Senegalese delegation.
Permanent Secretary at MOTAC Amie Njie delivered the closing remarks, commending the initiative and stressing the importance of cooperation among tourism stakeholders in promoting regional tourism.
The programme also featured a presentation on Destination Gambia by GTBoard Head of Marketing Musa Dem and a promotional video highlighting the country’s tourism attractions and experiences, followed by a question-and-answer session.
The networking event brought together representatives of MOTAC, GTBoard, GHA, the Tourism and Travel Association of The Gambia (TTAG), birdwatching operators, the Tourism Drivers Association, Gambia Ports Authority, hoteliers, Banjul International Conference Centre and other tourism stakeholders.
The weeklong familiarisation tour is expected to further strengthen tourism links between The Gambia and Senegal and create opportunities for operators in both countries to develop joint products and packages.
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