The Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, in collaboration with The Gambia Tourism Board and key stakeholders, celebrated World Tourism Day with a colorful ceremony featuring a march past led by The Gambia Police Band from the GTBoard head office to SunSet Hotel in Kotu on Sunday, September 27, 2026.
The Theme for this year’s celebration is ” Digital Agenda and Artificial Intelligence to Redesign Tourism ”
The Honorable Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Abdoulie Jobe, and Director General of the Gambia Tourism Board, Mrs Ida Jeng Njie, delivered speeches at the event.
Staff members of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, GTBoard officials, and key stakeholders in the sector were all on the ground to make the day a memorable one.
As part of the day’s activities, the Honorable Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture and the Director General of GTBoard also planted trees along the road leading to SunSet Hotel.
Before the day wrapped up, a symposium was held at the said hotel on the importance of Artificial Intelligence and the way forward for Tourism In The Gambia.
Speaking at the event, Honourable Abdoulie Jobe, Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture, said tourism remains a vital pillar of the economy of The Gambia, creating jobs, supporting businesses, empowering communities and showcasing our culture to the world.
“Our task is therefore not simply to adopt technology, but to use it strategically to make Destination Gambia more competitive, accessible and visible,” he said.
According to him, digitalization gives us new ways to tell the Gambian story and also take our beaches, heritage, wildlife, music, arts, cuisine and communities to audiences around the world.
“ Artificial intelligence can help our tourism businesses understand visitors better, improve services, use data more effectively and reach new markets. But let us be clear. Technology must serve people. Our digital transformation must be responsible, ethical and inclusive, “ he said.
Mrs. Ida Jeng Njie, Director General, Gambia Tourism Board, said this year comes at a time when technology is rapidly transforming the way people discover destinations, plan their journeys, experience attractions and share their travel experience with the world.
“ The Gambia Tourism Board recognizes that the future of tourism will require us to strengthen our digital presence, improve our use of data, support innovation within the industry, and equip our tourism stakeholders with the knowledge and tools needed to operate effectively in an increasingly digital marketplace, “ she said.
By Lamin Njie
Communications Officer
Ministry of Tourism, Arts And Culture
