The Gambia Tourism Board (GTBoard) continues its efforts to raise tourism awareness at the community level through outreach programs focused on educating young people about career opportunities in the industry.
Last week, the board’s marketing team hosted a Tourism and Hospitality Career Day with students from the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) at the organization’s MDI Road location in Kanifing.
The outreach programme was designed to inspire and inform students about the wide range of career prospects available in the tourism and travel industry. The event brought together students and lecturers and featured keynote presentations from GTBoard officials who highlighted The Gambia’s tourism potential and the Board’s role in developing the sector.
The interactive session provided students with the opportunity to ask questions and gain deeper insights into the industry. Many participants described the initiative as a unique and valuable experience since the establishment of the school.
Speaking during the event, Ebrima A.K. Sanyang, Senior Officer for Research and Development of the Gambia Tourism Board, described tourism as a vast and dynamic industry with numerous career pathways.
He explained that the outreach programme aims to help students identify potential career opportunities within the sector. According to him, many students complete their training without a clear understanding of the career options available to them.
“We want students to understand that studying tourism opens doors to many opportunities,” Sanyang said. “Apart from employment in hotels and travel companies, they can also become entrepreneurs by creating tourism-related products and services, promoting destinations, and using social media platforms to market their ideas.”
He noted that the initiative is part of a broader educational campaign that the Board has been conducting in different institutions, including the University of The Gambia and the Gambia Tourism and Hospitality Institute (GTHI).
The programme also previously engaged students in several senior secondary schools as part of efforts to introduce tourism as a viable career path at an early stage.
Meanwhile, Edrisa Gibba, Head of School at the Young Men’s Christian Association Tourism and Hospitality School, expressed appreciation for the outreach programme, describing it as both timely and necessary.
“This is something that should be done frequently,” Gibba said. “Most of these students come here to learn skills, but they are not always aware of the many opportunities within the tourism sector. Career days like this help them understand the different paths they can take after completing their training,” he said.
He further revealed that this was the first time the school had hosted such an outreach activity with GTBoard, expressing hope that the collaboration would continue in the future.
Students who attended the event also welcomed the initiative. Sainey Badjie expressed appreciation for the programme, noting that it provided practical insights into different roles within the hospitality industry, including housekeeping, reception, food and beverage services.
Another student, Isatou Camara, also commended both GTBoard and the school management for organizing the programme.
By Lamin Njie
Communications Officer
Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture
