Gambia
Experience, one of the most regular flights to Destination Gambia, Friday
landed at the Banjul International Airport with one hundred and ninety-six
English tourists onboard.
The
maiden flight landed at around 14:15 local time for the 2019 winter tourism
season which started earlier this October.
Taking
its position as one of the leading and regular flights to Destination Gambia
that operates all year round, the UK tour operator acted quickly to secure
additional flying between the UK and Banjul this winter season, to support
Gambian tourism following the collapse of Thomas Cook UK.
This
winter, Gambia Experience will operate three weekly flights between Gatwick and
Banjul, with a new Monday departure adding to its Tuesday and Friday flights as
they add Manchester and Birmingham flights.
Receiving
the airbus A 320 G-ZAPX that flew direct from Gatwick to the Banjul
International Airport, were officials of Gambia Tourism Board, Discovery Tours
and Gambia Experience.
Adama
Njie, Gambia Tourism Board Director of Marketing commended Gambia Experience
and its agent, Discovery Tours for its frequency to the destination as they
would be conducting five flights weekly.
He
explained that with the collapse of Thomas Cook UK, Gambia Experience has added
Manchester and Birmingham flights chartering a Boeing 737 aircraft. “Monday
Manchester departures will operate from December 16th to April 27th and
Wednesday Birmingham flights from December 18th until April 22nd with economy
flying including exit seat upgrades,” he said.
Oumie
Sise, manager of Discovery Tours and agent of Gambia Experience saidthe collapse
of Thomas Cook UK would bring significant reduction in terms of number of
arrivals. “But it is now time to move on and learn from the situation to better
the destination and its products,” she said.
She
encouraged stakeholders not to compromise the quality that distinguished The
Gambia from other destinations, saying as more tourists are needed to visit the
destination, there is need to encourage increased number of visitors from the
region because regional tourism is quite important to The Gambia.