Abdoulie Jobe, the Minister of Tourism and Culture, has urged Gambians to play an active role in promoting the country as a top tourist destination, stressing that the responsibility for growing the sector rests with everyone.

Speaking at the 9th Stakeholder Forum held at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara Centre, Minister Jobe highlighted the need for The Gambia to learn from regional success stories, citing Cape Verde as a model.

“Cape Verde, we are told, came here to learn about our tourism. But Cape Verde is doing arrival numbers in millions. And why not us? There’s something that we’re not doing right, and we have to do it right,” he said.

He explained that one of the factors behind Cape Verde’s success is its ability to leverage its diaspora for investment in tourism.

“One of the things that Cape Verde has done is to use its diaspora to invest in the sector. And this is what we’re aiming to do as well,” he said.

He also emphasised that tourism is a collective effort, requiring all Gambians to act as ambassadors for their country.

“Tourism, for me, is everybody’s business. We have to, each and every one of us as Gambians, be an ambassador for the destination. We have to sell the country, behave in the best way for people to come and visit this destination, which is, we have everything that it takes, better than some of our neighbours,” he added.

The forum brought together key stakeholders from the public and private sectors to discuss strategies for enhancing tourism, which remains a critical component of The Gambia’s economy.

By Adama Makasuba