In order to make this a reality, Adama Njie, director of Marketing – GTBoard and Mamadi Dampha, deputy permanent secretary at MoTC, on their recent visit to Nigeria met some strategic and viable partners, including Ambassador Ikechi Uko, organiser of Akwaaba African Travel Market and a seasoned travel and tourism expert in Africa, tour operators, airlines, and toured City of Badagary among other places in the country.
Dilating on a meeting between The Gambia delegates and Badagary Local Government, Lagos State, Nigeria, facilitated by the Ssupervisor for Environment and Tourism at Badagry Local Government, Adama Njie said it was a successful meeting where both The Gambia delegation and the host BLG used the opportunity to sell the potentials of Badagry and The Smiling Coast of Africa to each other.
Among the Gambia high points was the revitalisation of the regional market with Nigeria, how to bring back glory of The Gambia in Nigeria, incentive packages awaiting them (Nigerian tourists) in destination Gambia in terms of building 2, 3 star hotels in the hinterland and 4, 5 star hotels on the coast.
Also, Mr. Njie said both parties gave detail of their potential areas regarding history, culture, nature and business opportunities (in both Nigeria and The Gambia).
“It was an interactive meeting as we used it to discuss more tourism content and our potentials especially some of the country’s untapped opportunities like River Gambia, building of hotels both at the hinterland and on the coast,” Adama Njie stated.
Badagary, being an Ancient City, the delegates from The Gambia were taken on a conducted tour of different places at the Ancient City of Badagry including a visit to the First Story Building in Nigeria built in 1845 by Reverend C. A. Golmer, Badagry Heritage Museum owned by Lagos State and other historical places.
According to the office of the Supervisor for Environment and Tourism, Badagary Local Government, the high points of the meeting included “readiness to work strategically together/interested in the collaboration; philosophy without tourism; there’s no Gambia; continuous engagement on massive marketing of the two destinations; attending various exhibitions to sell products and services; reason for Gambia tourism growing well – is the unity that reigns amongst and constant awareness.”
