Gambia: Tourism Authority Prepares for ATA Congress

Mar 09, 2010

By www.foroyaa.gm

The Gambia Tourism Authority [GTA], in collaboration with the Gambia Hotel Association [GHA], is preparing for the forthcoming 35th Annual Congress of the Africa Travel Agency [ATA] to be held in the Gambia in May 2010. It is in this regard that a business forum was held at the Kairaba Beach Hotel attended by the members of the Hoteliers Association, senior officials of GTA and other stakeholders.

Speaking at the forum, the Director General of GTA, Madam Binta Jobe, said the forum is meant to focus on the sector that has been an engine of development in The Gambia for the past several years. She said the tourism industry has been in the forefront in various development endeavours since the early years of Independence of this country.

This, she said, is what is responsible for The Gambia being called the 'Smiling Coast of Africa '.

According to her, "the GTA vision is to develop the Gambia into a world class tourist destination and a business centre with diversity and great products so as to attract high spending tourists and generally increase demand,".

She added that the GTA is collaborating with the stakeholders in the tourism and travel trade to develop tourism on an ongoing basis. As such,explained the GTA Director, one of the strategies identified has been the hosting of international conferences such as the ATA. She said that in addition to the huge international exposure and marketing benefits that the ATA congress can bring for the country, it also offers many travel professionals the opportunity to sample and experience the Gambia's renowned hospitality and products.

In her statement, Mrs. Fatou Mass Jobe Njie, the Minister of Tourism and Culture, said Tourism should be everybody's concern and that they should all work as a team. According to the minister, she is delighted to announce that the Gambia will be the 35th host of the ATA congress. She announced that the gathering is slated for 17th -20th May 2010.

The Tourism Minister noted that the tourism stakeholders are gearing up for the great event in the tourism calendar of events in the country.

She said the smiling people of the Gambia will join forces to present all its unique qualities to make the ATA congress a success.

"I would like to appeal to the generous and worthy members of the business fraternity to give us all the support in terms of moral and more so financial. It is worth noting at this point that out of total budget for the congress which is 4.7 million dalasi we have only raised 1.1 million dalasi, leaving us with a budget deficit of 3.6 million dalasi", disclosed the Tourism minister.

She finally called on the various hotel managers and all service providers to 'buckle up and ensure guest satisfaction for the various guests who are coming to attend the ATA congress.

Other speakers at the forum included Mr. Samba Batch Faye, a stakeholder in the tourism industry. It was chaired by the General Manager of Kairaba Beach Hotel, Mr. Gerard Lombardo.

Print this page - Email this page - Comment