By Yunus S Saliu
The Gambia Tourism Board (GTBoard) on Monday, October 19, 2026, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Gambia Ferry Services to improve visitor experience, facilitate the movement of tourists and strengthen service delivery at the country’s ferry ports.
Speaking before the signing ceremony, Ida Jeng-Njie, Director General of GTBoard, said the partnership would help improve visitors’ entry and exit experiences while maximising tourism’s economic benefits to The Gambia.
She explained that the agreement was prompted by the increasing number of visitors entering the country through various routes, including air, land and sea, as well as the growing number of passengers arriving through ferry services and cruise ships.
According to her, the Gambia Ferry Services plays an important role in shaping visitors’ first impressions of the country, making its services critical to the overall tourism experience.
“You can make it or break it for the destination because you are one of the first points of contact for visitors,” she said, emphasising the need to ensure that travellers are received in a safe, hospitable and timely manner.
DG Jeng-Njie particularly highlighted the importance of effective time management for cruise ship passengers, who often have limited time to explore the country. She noted that efficient movement and timely services would enable visitors to explore tourist attractions, purchase local crafts and patronise lodges and other tourism facilities in the country’s interior.
She said these activities would generate income for local businesses and communities, reinforcing the principle that “tourism is everybody’s business.”
The GTBoard Director General also highlighted the movement of holidaymakers and children between The Gambia and Senegal during the summer period, noting that more than 2,000 children travelled from Senegal to The Gambia for summer camps. Some were accompanied by their parents, creating additional economic opportunities for businesses and service providers.
She further stressed the need to facilitate the timely movement of visitors departing The Gambia, including those travelling through neighbouring countries to catch international flights.
According to her, ensuring that travellers meet their flight schedules and enjoy a smooth journey is essential to maintaining a positive destination image.
Jeng-Njie noted that visitors who enjoy a safe and pleasant travel experience are more likely to spend money, appreciate the destination and return in the future, thereby contributing to repeat visitation.
She added that the GTBoard looked forward to implementing the agreement in collaboration with the ferry services to improve visitor experiences and ensure that tourism benefits the wider Gambian economy.
For his part, Jerreh Badjie, Director of Technical Services at the Gambia Ferry Services, described the signing as an important occasion that would strengthen cooperation between the two institutions.
He said that, to the best of his recollection, the agreement could be the first formal MOU of its kind between the institutions. However, he recalled that during the former regime, when Yankuba Touray served as Minister of Tourism, a directive was issued to accord priority and preferential treatment to tourism-related traffic and vehicles, a practice he said had continued.
Badjie welcomed the MOU as a step in the right direction and assured the gathering that the ferry services would implement its provisions fully.
He expressed optimism that the arrival of a new ferry would ease operations and strengthen the institution’s capacity to fulfil its commitments under the agreement.
He also disclosed that the Gambia Ferry Services planned to return the Kunta Kinteh ferry to operation within two months.
According to him, the addition of the new ferry and the anticipated return of the Kunta Kinteh would enhance operational capacity and enable the institution to carry out its responsibilities under the MOU more effectively.
Meanwhile, Adama Njie, Director of Marketing at GTBoard, thanked everyone involved in making the agreement possible, noting that both institutions had worked tirelessly towards its realisation.
He said the MOU would help address outstanding issues and operational gaps identified in the past, expressing confidence that the agreement would strengthen cooperation and improve service delivery.
Njie also expressed gratitude to the Gambia Ferry Services for its support and cooperation, adding that GTBoard looked forward to the effective implementation of the MOU.
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