The Gambia is participating in the 27th Meeting of the Tourism Working Group of the Standing Committee for Economic and Commercial Cooperation of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (COMCEC), held in Ankara, Türkiye, from 16–17 September 2026.
The Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture and The Gambia Tourism Board (GTBoard) are represented by Mr. Lamin Bojang, Product Development Manager and Sustainable Tourism Expert, who is participating in discussions focused on “Impacts of Climate Change and Mitigation Strategies for Sustainable OIC Tourism.”
The two-day meeting provides an important platform for COMCEC member countries to exchange experiences, good practices, and policy approaches aimed at strengthening the resilience and sustainability of tourism in the face of climate change.
The first day’s deliberations featured a presentation of the Draft Research Report on Impacts of Climate Change and Mitigation Strategies for Sustainable OIC Tourism, delivered by Prof. Dr. Gürel Çetin. This was followed by discussions on the perspectives and experiences of Member Countries, providing an opportunity for participants to share national approaches, challenges, and opportunities in addressing climate-related impacts on the tourism sector.
A presentation on the perspective of international organizations was also delivered by Mr. Ali Cem Deniz of UNDP, highlighting the role of international cooperation and development partners in supporting climate action and sustainable tourism.
The second day of the meeting was focused on a Policy Debate Session aimed at formulating policy recommendations for consideration at the 42nd COMCEC Ministerial Session. The policy debate will specifically address climate change impacts and mitigation strategies for sustainable tourism across OIC Member Countries.
The Gambia’s participation in the meeting demonstrates its continued engagement in regional and international tourism policy dialogue and provides an opportunity to share the country’s experiences while learning from emerging approaches to climate-resilient and sustainable tourism development.
By Lamin Njie
Communications Officer
Ministry of Tourism, Arts And Culture
