We congratulate the government for taking this initiative to sign the 30-year concession agreement with Albayrak Group, to modernise the Banjul ports and construct a new port in Sanyang, West Coast Region. Construction in Sanyang has a timeline of six years costing 1 billion dollars.
The Gambia Ports Authority should prioritise the berthing of vessels carrying essential commodities like sugar and rice, as any delays could lead to congestion and disruption of the supply of these goods. The Port authorities must address this issue to prevent an increase in the cost of these essential items. Delays in disembarking essential commodities will be costly for businesses, and this will ultimately be reflected in higher prices for consumers. When vessels with essential commodities are unable to berth, it results in significant demurrage charges, further increasing the cost of these goods. It is crucial that the expansion of Banjul ports is expedited to ensure vessels arriving from abroad can unload goods without delays.
We should be mindful of the fact that GPA is facing tough competition within the sub-region, and mechanisms should be put in place to see how best to improve the services to their customers.
Tourism
Mr President, the tourist season began last Friday, with an anticipated 232,000 tourists expected to visit this year. The first group of 175 British tourists arrived in The Gambia on Friday. The 2024/25 season looks promising, and the government should ensure that tourists experience the country’s peacefulness, hospitality, and all it has to offer. They need to be protected, ‘bumsters’ should be monitored, tourist areas should be secured and made safe by security personnel so that tourists get all the necessary support for their stay to be successful.
Mr President, with the arrival of tourists, we anticipate an increase in foreign exchange, which is crucial given the current high inflation and rapidly rising foreign exchange rates that have driven up the cost of living. Tourism is the Gambia’s second-largest source of foreign exchange earnings after agriculture. Thus, Government should be on top of the tourism game in the sub-region by developing and implementing plans for the tourist season, through which thousands of people earn their livelihoods, to be an all-year-round affair. More attractive facilities and incentives for tour operators and tourists in general should be rolled out or provided.
We cannot but congratulate the Gambia Tourism Board and the Ministry of Tourism for a job well done in their promotion to attract thousands of tourists to the country.
Good day!