Abdoulie Hydara, director general of GTBoard and Hassoum Ceesay, director general of the NCAC signed the agreement on behalf of their respective organisations. The project will strengthen the tie between GTBoard and NCAC for the promotion of domestic and heritage tourism.
About the hotel
The Barra Hotel Project situated at Barra Point, NBR, is 40 rooms four star hotel built by GTBoard. It is meant to solve the long standing need for food accommodation in Barra town which has greatly affected tourism and trade in the town. The hotel will create employment for the community of Barra and environs, give space for artists in the form of craft shops where material of interest could be made and sold to visitors. It will add value to Barra and foster a lot of business related to tourism and culture for the women and youth of Barra and the Niumis.
The main elements of the development comprised of: 40 Rooms (Standard, Studio, and Suites), Kitchen, Bar and Restaurant, Lounge bar, Reception area with lounge, Parking at entrance, Swimming pool and Administrative offices.
Speaking at the signing ceremony held at the Ministry of Tourism and Culture (MOTC), Minister Hamat N.K Bah congratulated the Director Generals of NCAC and GTBoard for the partnership, saying it is one of the key policies of the government of President Adama Barrow to promote domestic tourism in which they will need to create the facilities.
He expressed hope that both Gambian and non-Gambian investors would come to partake in the new venture in trying to build new facilities upcountry in promoting domestic tourism. He encouraged Gambians to explore their country in order to see its beauty.
Minister Bah commended the GTBoard for fulfilling the aspiration of President Barrow, saying the project will certainly deliver some positive dividends for tourism development in the country.
Abdoulie M. Touray, chairperson of GTBoard also congratulated NCAC and GTBoard for the partnership. He said during the post Covid-19 era, it is important to rethink their strategies on the direction the tourism sector would take.
According to him, the major attraction for people wanting to come to The Gambia is premise on heritage.
He said the partnership is a win-win because it will give tourists the opportunity to discover Gambia’s culture and rich heritage and will also bring development in the area.
Director General of NCAC, Hassoum Ceesay said signing of the MoU is a sign of genuine partnership between the NCAC and GTBoard under the auspices of the Ministry of Tourism and Culture to erect a four star accommodation facility at Barra Point Fort Bullen which is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
He said the initiative is important as it will add value to the UNESCO World heritage site, saying it shows the ministry’s readiness to respond to the National Development Plan (NDP) and the needs of the community of Barra.
Abdoulie Hydara, director general of GTBoard commended the NCAC for giving them the opportunity to come into a public-public partnership. According to him, this is the first of its kind and that is worth emulating.
