By Yunus S. Saliu
The Gambia Tourism Board (GTBoard) Governing Body Chairman, Momodou Bamba Saho, has called for tourism development in the North Bank Region and other parts of the country to translate into tangible benefits for local communities.
Saho said greater community participation was needed in tourism planning, ownership and access to economic opportunities generated by the sector.
Speaking at a stakeholder engagement held at Dembo Hall in Kerewan, North Bank Region, on Monday, he said the region had significant potential for sustainable tourism development, particularly because of its rich cultural and historical heritage.
The North Bank is home to major heritage sites, including Albreda, Jufureh, Kunta Kinteh Island and Fort Bullen, which are linked to The Gambia’s history and its connections to the wider world.
Saho said these sites, together with the region’s river landscapes, cultural traditions and hospitality, offered opportunities to diversify the country’s tourism product beyond the traditional coastal tourism areas.
He noted that improvements in transportation and electricity infrastructure were also making tourism attractions more accessible and creating better conditions for tourism businesses and investment in the region.
According to him, developing these attractions could encourage visitors to explore more of the country, stay longer and spend more within local communities.
He, however, stressed that tourism development came with responsibilities, including preserving cultural heritage, respecting community life and protecting the environment.
Saho said the success of tourism should also be measured by the opportunities created for local tour guides, boat operators, craft producers, food vendors, farmers, fishermen, women and young people.
He encouraged Gambians, including those in the diaspora, to travel within the country and discover its diverse cultural and natural attractions.
Saho said the stakeholder engagement was aimed at strengthening collaboration among tourism stakeholders, identifying attractions and opportunities, understanding challenges affecting their development and promoting community-based tourism.
He said the process would also give communities a stronger role in determining tourism priorities and identifying projects that could be developed based on available resources.
“We are here to listen to you,” Saho said, urging participants to share their knowledge, ideas, challenges and priorities openly.
He said local communities understood their areas better and should therefore play a central role in identifying what made each destination unique and determining what was needed to develop it.
Saho reaffirmed the GTBoard’s commitment to working with the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, regional authorities, local communities and other stakeholders to develop a tourism sector that reflected the diversity and character of the entire country.
He said the ultimate objective was to ensure that tourism itineraries encouraged visitors to travel beyond the traditional tourism zones and discover the wider Gambia.