The Gambia is stepping up efforts to attract more Nigerian tourists and investors, with Tourism Minister Abdoulie Jobe calling for stronger tourism cooperation between The Gambia and Port Harcourt.

Minister Jobe made the call on Friday during a meeting between Gambian tourism authorities and a delegation from the Port Harcourt Beach Association of Nigeria at the Gambia Tourism Board.

He said the visit was more than a holiday, describing it as an opportunity to build a long-term partnership between The Gambia and Port Harcourt.

“Instead of knocking at your door, you came to us,” Jobe told the Nigerian delegation.

“So it is our responsibility to embrace you and work with you to see how we can make it happen.”

The Minister said stronger cooperation among tourism stakeholders across West Africa could help increase intra-African travel, arguing that Africans should travel more within the continent instead of relying heavily on destinations outside Africa.

He identified air access as one of the major challenges to increasing travel between African destinations, but said demand must first be created before airlines would consider establishing routes.

“I am one person who always say that air access does not fall from the sky. You cannot just talk about air access. You have to create the demand,” Jobe said.

He also highlighted investment opportunities in The Gambia, particularly in tourism, saying the country had reserved land for tourism development since the creation of the Tourism Development Area in the 1970s.

The Minister said the government, with support from the World Bank, had also developed investment priority areas, including pre-feasibility studies and costings for potential investors.

Gambia Tourism Board Director General Ida Jeng-Njie described Nigeria as a key market for the country’s tourism industry.

She said Nigerians were known for travelling and spending significantly when they visit destinations, whether for leisure, weddings, retreats or other purposes.
“We want a fair share of the Nigerian market,” Jeng-Njie said.

She said the Tourism Board was working with stakeholders to attract more visitors with disposable income who could contribute significantly to the Gambian economy.

The Nigerian delegation also called for stronger direct links between Port Harcourt and The Gambia.

Port Harcourt Beach Association President Wacter Aberpikima said the Nigerian market was large and that the delegation was interested in developing stronger tourism and investment ties with The Gambia.

“We want a straight flight from Port Harcourt to Banjul,” he said.

Aberpikima also proposed greater cooperation in tourism promotion, including the use of inflight magazines and public education to promote tourism.

He said Port Harcourt was ready to work with Gambian tourism authorities and encouraged Gambians to explore investment opportunities in Nigeria.

“We are African tourists,” he said, stressing the importance of Africans travelling within the continent.

Consultant Sheikh Tijan Nyang, who has been involved in promoting tourism links between the two countries, said he believed strongly in the Nigerian market and continued to support initiatives aimed at expanding destination Gambia.

He described Port Harcourt as a professional beach tourism market and urged the Nigerian delegation to continue promoting The Gambia and consider investment opportunities in the country.

Minister Jobe said the government was ready to work with the delegation and explore practical areas of cooperation that could strengthen the relationship between Port Harcourt and The Gambia.

He said the partnership should not only focus on tourism but also explore wider investment opportunities.

The meeting comes as The Gambia seeks to diversify its tourism market and increase the number of African visitors travelling to the country.

Jobe said the country had much to offer Nigerian visitors, including its beaches, hospitality, cultural experiences and food.

He also invited the delegation to make the most of their stay, saying the government wanted them to leave with a positive experience of The Gambia.

The proposed partnership could pave the way for closer tourism ties between Banjul and Port Harcourt, with both sides expressing interest in increasing travel, investment and people-to-people exchanges.

By Adama Makasuba