The Gambia government is to launch a $68 million World Bank grant project to diversify resilience of the tourism sector.

The announcement was made today at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara Conference Centre in Bijilo.

Tourism is one the main contributing sectors of The Gambia’s economy and employs 17% of the workforce 

Tourism minister, Hamat Bah, said: “The biggest share of the grant porfolio amounting to $50 million will be spent on infrastructure works. 

“This design is to ensure that the tourism sector physical assets are protected from further damages as a result of climate change.”

Mr Bah continued: “The tourism diversification and resilience project shall support the tourism sector to diversify the products offer through sight and destination enhancement. 

“The project shall improve the marketing and branding of Destination Gambia through capacity building of key institutions to take informed policy, decision-based on timely and update data. 

“The project improve tourism related micro and small enterprises and provide funding to help them grow.”

“Last but not the least, the project will build the resilience of the tourism sector in The Gambia by financing coastal infrastructure work in West Coast tourism development area and rehabilitating important tourism sight to ensure the sector is better position to recover from any future shocks,” he added.

Abdoulie Jallow, permanent secretary at the ministry of Finance and Economics Affairs, described the grant as critical to the development of the country’s economy.

Reporting by Adama Makasuba