As Gambia Tourism Board under the tutelage of the Ministry of Tourism and Culture re-joins the only West Africa’s most famous, largest, meeting and exhibition forum popularly known as Akwaaba Travel Market, taking place in Lagos, Nigeria, between 9th to 11th of September 2018, Abdoullahi Hydara, director general of the Gambia Tourism Board is to lead the #TeamGambia to the event.
The #TeamGambia to the 14th edition of the Akwaaba Travel Market 2018 includes the Gambia Tourism and Hospitality Institute, ITTOG, GIA, Aviation, National Center for Arts and Culture, Members of TTAG, ASSET, GHA, among other relevant tourism stakeholders.
The Gambia took a 3-year break from participating in the Akwaaba Travel Market, but re-joined in April 2018 during an organised Akwaaba Travel Market’s team FAM-Trip to destination Gambia.
The Gambia’s participation in this annual travel exhibition prior to its break few years back witnessed a tremendous moment for the country as large number of visitors and prospective investors from Nigeria visited The Gambia.
However, the three years break drastically reduced the Gambia Tourism Board all year round campaign within the region.
However, Abdoullahi Hydara, director general of GTBoard, who will be leading the team said the board will do everything possible to reclaim back the almost lost Nigeria market.
He added that the country is a safe haven on earth for holidaymakers and any kind of legitimate investors “as there are lots of untapped opportunities for various investors in the country.”
Adama Njie, director of Marketing GTBoard who will as well join other panellists – Akwesi Agyeman – CEO Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) and Stella Fubara – director Africa, Dubai Tourism (DTCM) to discuss the Africa Tour Operators Conference on a theme: “The Role of DMCs and DMOs in Sustainable Destination Marketing in Africa said this year’s edition is an opportunity for The Gambia to relaunch and sell the country to other participating countries from not only the continent by others as well.
In this year’s edition, four Gambian tour operators – African Adventure Tours; Gambia Tours; Alkamba Tours and Discovery Tours are named among others to receive the Africa Top 100 Tour Operators award.
Meanwhile, At the 13th Edition of the Akwaaba African Travel Market 2017 Sheik Tijan Nyang –head of Institute of Travel and Tourism of The Gambia, Fatou Mas Jobe Njie, former minister of Tourism and Culture, Fumeke Palmer-Sarr – head, Ecobank Business Service Banjul, Prof. (Dr) Adama Ndiaye, Ecotourism Holiday Club Kairaba – Toubacouta and Bunama Njie – general ganager, Senegambia Beach Hotel received the Top 100 Tourism Personalities in West Africa. While Fatou Mas Jobe Njie, Angela Andrews Njie, Farma Njie, Ida Cham, Abby Sarr and Ida Jeng Njie were awarded alongside other counterparts as Africa Travel 100 Women: The Leaders, Pioneers and Innovators of Tourism and Travel.
By Yunus S Saliu
Source: thepoint.gm
