The
Minister of Tourism and Culture, Fatou Mass Jobe-Njie at the weekend received
Canaria Boeing, a Poland aircraft, at the Banjul International Airport with 240
tourists from Poland.
The Minister was accompanied by senior government officials from her Ministry, GTBoard, journalists and other stakeholders to receive the tourists.
Speaking in an interview with journalists shortly after the landing of the aircraft, the Tourism Minister said the coming of the Polish to The Gambian market is another achievement for The Gambia tourism industry.
She told journalists that more flights are expected to land at the Banjul International Airport for this year tourist season.
Minister Jobe-Njie added that they have also concluded a visit from America and Europe just to sell ‘Destination Gambia’ as well as the products and services of the Smiling Coast of Africa.
“We also talked about the International Roots Homecoming Festival for 2014. Thomas Cook will make over 12 flights to the destination as we have also worked that on the ground,” she disclosed.
The Tourism Minister went on to say that as the season has just started, they are expecting more flights from different countries and all this is part of making the tourist season a success for The Gambia.
“My target is to make the industry an all-year round tourism and as well as to target the sub-regional market,” she said.
Also speaking to journalists at the airport was Benjamin Roberts, director general of GTBoard who said their target is to penetrate different destinations to sell this year’s tourist season.
He added that this being the first flight from Poland is a good and encouraging move as well. The GTBoard director informed journalists that the season started on 18 October 2013, adding that they are making everything possible to keep the flights coming to the destination.
“This flight came with 240 passengers and we are looking at about 600,000 tourists,” Mr Roberts said.
Saikouba Ceesay, who is the brain behind the aircraft coming to the country, thanked the Government of The Gambia through the Ministry of Tourism and Culture for their support.
