Fatou Mass Jobe-Njie, Minister of Tourism and Culture, accompanied by various ministries, senior government officials from her Ministry, and hotel managers, as well as organizations, last Saturday officially inaugurated the Fajara Craft Market.
Delivering her statement on the occasion, Hon. Jobe-Njie commended all, especially Gambia LTD, for helping her ministry to mark this historic occasion by revamping the old market and constructing in its stead the magnificent craft market of The Gambia.
The tourism minister said the new market, quite apart from the beauty and splendor it has added to the surroundings in the Fajara waterfront, has also provided vendors with a modern facility that “is visitor-friendly and very conducive to conduct business”.
There is now more canteen space that more environmentally friendly market tourists and other visitors to the market will appreciate.
Hon. Mass Jobe-Njie also said the development of craft markets within the tourism development area is therefore a cornerstone of her ministry’s tourism policy.
“It is our firm conviction that developing the craft sector also contributes to our competitiveness as a destination,” she said, adding that the Gambian leader places high premium on the development of tourism generally because of its importance to the national economy.
Tourism is one of the drivers of The Gambia’s GDP growth of 6 per cent a year during the 2008-2010, the tourism minister said, adding: “I wish to applaud the workers, whose hands and brains were applied, resulting in this great accomplishment that is today a symbol of pride and appreciation to the tourism fraternity and indeed to all patriotic Gambians.”
