The Gambia is among seven other African countries that are vying for tourists from the United Arab Emirates. The Smiling Coast is selling itself in the Gulf region and Middle East as open for business, leisure and investment.

The Arab Market has been earmarked as key in the diversification phase to seek new markets. The Gambia was well represented at the just concluded Arabian Travel Market 2019 that was held in Dubai last month.

“They said, wow Gambia, you are here!” Ida Jeng Njie, Director International Tourism, Gambia Tourism Board shared the surprise reaction which her team received “because they (the Emiratis) do not expect any country from West Africa here.”

“This is a virgin market for the Gambia, so we cannot say that we are targeting only this. We are welcoming everybody,” Ms. Njie added.

Given her coastal position, the Gambia is hoping to appeal, especially, to the adventurers. Emiratis and others in the region usually look for cooler climates to get away from the heat and humidity between May and October which is coincidentally the cooler months in the Gambia.

The Siling Coast also hopes to tap into MICE travel (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) as it is reported that it is where the new money is.

The Gambia has stepped up efforts by opening a tourism office in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The other African countries that took part in the Tourism fair were Seychelles, South Africa, Uganda, Rwanda, Egypt and Morocco.