Tourism
and Culture minister, Hamat Bah, Monday inaugurated the National Air Access
Committee (NAAC) at his office in Banjul. The ceremony was attended by senior
government officials as well as tourism stakeholders. The committee was created to have an air
access for the country.
Minister
Bah said there has been an air access committee before, but the difference with
the new one is that it is a stakeholder private sector led and not government.
“We need to change, and the only way we can do that is to engage the people to
lead the process and we remain at the back to support the team as a
government.”
He
said the international community will not come and support if they delay in
creating the committee.
Mamadi
Dampha, deputy permanent secretary of the Ministry of Tourism and Culture said
that a few months ago, Thomas Cook collapsed, which was never expected but
again as a government, they took steps to ensure that the tourist season is not
affected, adding that the government has put in strategic measures to ensure
that even though Thomas Cook has collapsed, there will be other contingent
measures that will ensure that tourists keep coming.
Sheikh
Tijan Nyang, a Tourism stakeholder said he had a meeting with Minister Bah
months ago, on the situation in terms of air access which has been mentioned in
the Master Plan, and it was recommended that there is a need to address the
situation.
“We
have the commitment of the development partners who are willing to assist us
base on the situation of the country,” he said, adding that tourism is the
economic backbone of the country and authorities should ensure that they take
the bull by the horn to move away from package tours.
Basiru
Jawara, a well-known Gambian businessman said the problem of tourism in The
Gambia is a long time problem.
Bunama
Njie, chairman of Gambia Hotel Association said it is important for Gambia to
have air access to make the destination prosper, which has been lacking.
Abdoulie
Hydra, director general of GTBoard and chairman of the National Air Access
Committee said Gambia’s economy depends on tourism and the biggest challenges
the industry is facing is air access. “We wish to thank the government for
those initiatives, we have people who are working in the hotel industry and
they know what is needed to fill their hotels.”
