Dear What’s On-Gambia team,

I read with interest your recent post proposing ideas to boost tourism in The Gambia. It’s always encouraging to see Gambians engaging actively in national development dialogue. Tourism is indeed central to our economic and cultural identity, and your passion is commendable.

However, I would like to offer some important clarifications in response to your post, particularly on issues where it might appear as though little or no work is being done. In fact, several of the points you raised are already being systematically addressed under the World Bank-funded Tourism Diversification and Resilience in The Gambia Project (TDRGP), a US$68 million national initiative implemented by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture.

Here’s a brief overview of ongoing efforts:

1.  Digital Marketing & Promotion

 

The TDR project has developed a comprehensive 5-year Tourism Marketing, Branding and Investment Promotion Strategy over an eight-month period that was preceded by broad-based consultation with tourism stakeholders in and out of the country. The two comprehensive situational analyses on marketing and branding, and investment promotion are available for download on our website. The new brand, logo, and positioning statement will be rolled out with the strategy for implementation from August, following Cabinet approval. I am pleased to inform you that the marketing strategy includes a strong digital marketing component using platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok. The strategy was validated in May 2025 and is due for rollout.

2.  Heritage & Destination Development

 

The Demand and Destination Site Assessment, commissioned by the project in 2024, assessed 64 tourism sites across the country. Ten were shortlisted based on potential for development, including Kunta Kinteh Island, Wassu Stone Circles, and Albreda/Juffureh. Each site is being guided by tailored thematic concepts (e.g., “Reshaping Heritage Tourism” at Albreda, “Celebrating 1000 Years of Culture” at Wassu). The Government of the Gambia through effective collaboration between Ministry of Environment, Climate Change & Natural Resources (MECCNAR), Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MoTAC), Ministry of Finance & Economic Affairs (MoFEA) and Ministry of Justice is building on the investment proposal on Kiang West National Park from the Demand and Destination Assessment Shortlist report to develop a Public Private Partnership proposal that will be subjected to competitive bidding.

3.  Jetty & River Tourism Enhancement

 

We’ve conducted a full Jetty Assessment Study of 10 potential river tourism hubs along the River Gambia. This includes hydrodynamic, economic, and engineering assessments with costed recommendations to improve riverine access, enabling sites like Janjanbureh, Bintang Bolong, and Albreda to become more accessible and appealing to tourists.

4.  Kunta Kinteh Island Revitalization

 

The revitalisation of Kunta Kinteh Island is a flagship project under the TDRGP. Plans include coastal erosion protection through offshore wave dampeners, flood walls, construction of two new jetties at Albreda and the Island, and a total redesign of the tourist experience, including museum and market upgrades. Preliminary designs are completed, with the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment now underway.

5.  Coastal Protection (Fajara to Senegambia)

 

The project will also protect The Gambia’s most prized coastline from erosion—from Fajara to Senegambia—through beach nourishment and construction of offshore breakwaters. The feasibility study has been completed, and preliminary design and modelling have been finalised. Stakeholder consultations and technical design reviews are already ongoing.

6.  MSME Support in Tourism

 

We agree that empowering local businesses is essential. The project has trained and supported 57 tourism-related MSMEs (including many women- and youth-led businesses) through a capacity-building and matching grant scheme. These MSMEs are now set to receive $1.4 million in grants. A second cohort of 65 MSMEs has also been onboarded, with a goal of supporting up to 200 MSMEs by 2027.

We appreciate your ideas and encourage continued civic engagement. However, it’s equally important to ground our conversations in the context of existing national efforts—many of which directly align with your aspirations for the sector.

Thank you again for contributing to the public discourse. If you or your audience would like to learn more about the project’s ongoing work, we’d be happy to engage further, and please check our website, where we regularly upload final reports, and tag or follow our social media feeds on Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter.

 

 

You can contact the Project Director, Mr. Momodou Ceesay, at mceesay@piumotc.gm, or the communication specialist, rsjallow@piumotc.gm

 

 

Tourism Diversification & Resilience Gambia Project

Project Implementation Unit

Bertil Harding Highway

Kotu, The Gambia

Website: www.tdrgp.gm

Email: info@piumotc.gm

 

Social media handles:

 

@tdrgp

@t.d.r.g.p

 

https://www.facebook.com/tdrgambiaproject