The initiative is designed to fulfil the framework agreement between the Gambia Tourism Board (GTBoard) and National Centre for Arts and Culture (NCAC).
The construction of the hotel is born out of the partnership between the Gambia Tourism Board (GTBoard) and National Centre for Arts and Culture (NCAC) to promote domestic and heritage tourism in the country.
Speaking prior to the laying of the foundation stone of the resort, Honourable Hamat N.K. Bah expressed his delight to lay the foundation stone of the project which had been earlier conceived and has now become a reality.
“By making sure that the policies and programmes of the Adama Barrow’s government, that is, taking tourism beyond Banjul and Serekunda to other parts of The Gambia becomes a reality and by promoting domestic tourism infrastructure must be put in place,” he noted.
To actualise the government’s policy and programmes, he said the Gambia Tourism Board took it upon themselves to take tourism beyond Banjul and Serrekunda, KMC and Brikama but to every part of the country.
The Minister asserted that they could not tell when tourists would start coming to the country as today’s tourism worldwide is facing with an unprecedented challenge “that we do not know when it is going to end and we have no idea as to when the world is going to defeat covid-19 or when covid-19 will be fair with us. The tourism and travel industry is in trouble, therefore tourists coming from abroad can only come if it is safe to come and in as much as we want tourists to come we will not sacrifice the interest, the safety and well being of The Gambian people.”
Minister Bah, however, noted that developing this infrastructure is a guarantee that Gambians can travel within their own country to explore and know their country.
Among other significance of the project, he highlighted that it is a joint effort of the GTBoard and NCAC knowing fully that the site of the project is a UNESCO Heritage Site recognised internationally by UNESCO which makes it a win-win situation.
More so, Honorable Bah assured that the D. K. Jawara Resort is just a beginning as five more others will be built across all other regions within 12 months.
Governor of North Bank Region, Ebrima Dampha applauded the government of The Gambia through minister of Tourism and Culture.
He underscored the importance of the ongoing development under President Adama Barrow’s administration which he described as unprecedented.
He therefore appealed to the contractor to contract people of the community and the region for the job to enable them benefit from the project.
Mr. Mendy, managing director of the Lerr Group, alkalo of Barra, chief of Lower Niumi all made remarks while chairpersons of NCAC, GTBoard, councilors, DPS, directors and officials of MoTC, NCAC and GTBoard, imams, VDC chairman among other VIPs witnessed the ceremony.
The D K Jawara Resort project is situated at Barra Point close to Fort Bullen. It is a forty room 4-star hotel. The resort facility includes standard studio and suites, kitchen, bar, restaurant, lounge bar, reception area with lounge, parking, swimming pool and administrative offices.
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