The Ministry of Tourism and Culture through The Gambia Tourism and Hospitality Institute (GTHI) has established a fully equipped bakery center with the capacity to train 100 bakers and pastry cooks every year, revealed Hon. Hamat N.K. Bah, the Minister of Tourism and Culture.
Minister Bah was speaking on Tuesday during a press conference held at his office in Banjul where he highlighted the numerous achievements registered by his Ministry.
Minister Bah disclosed to the press that the GTHI has developed a revised curriculum of international standards in tourism and hospitality with adequate teaching and learning materials at certificate levels that meets the needs of the industry worldwide. He added that the institution has provided professional tourism and hospitality vocational training for over 3500 youth during the period under review and they as well facilitate training at master’s degree level, for four members of their staff.
He added that the institution has established a digital library with volumes of reading materials and developed a GTHI application for a digital e-learning. “This application has facilitated curriculum delivery during the COVID-19 pandemic which led to school closure. As a result, the institution did not lose time during this period,” he revealed.
According to him, in a bid to decentralize tourism activities nationwide, an expansion program in tourism and hospitality training in rural Gambia is initiated in Janjangbureh in the Central River Region in partnership with the YEP with 240 young Gambians to build capacity and create employment opportunities.
The Tourism and Culture Minister added that they have also established a research unit with the task of developing international recipes using local ingredients, thus creating better linkages with agriculture.
Tourism Ministry Gives D1.8M to NCAC For Rehabilitation of Site
Hon. Hamat N.K. Bah, the Minister of Tourism and Culture has disclosed that the works for the rehabilitation of Mungo Park Memorial Obelisk at Karantaba will officially kick-off as the Ministry has given D1.8 million to the National Center for Arts and Culture (NCAC) for the rehabilitation which will include site museum, perimeter fence, and visitor conveniences.
Speaking on Tuesday during a press conference held at his office in Banjul Minister Bah affirmed that he will use the same period to formally open the fully rehabilitated Kerr Batch Stone Circles site in Nianija which was also refurbished with monies from Government in the Development Budget. “The works included water supply, new perimeter fence, and a new site museum exhibition and office space and visitor convenience,” he said.
Therefore, he added. close to 25 community youths in Barra and environs and at Wassu and environs have been trained in tour guiding and also women in these heritage host communities have been trained in various skills to make souvenirs.
Festivals
With support from the Ministry of Tourism and Culture and The Gambia Tourism Board (GTBoard), Minister Bah added that they have continued to financially support the successful organization of festivals in the past two months alone close to 10 festivals and more are coming. For Kankurang Festival, he noted, GTBoard supported D550,000 to ensure a successful festival. Other festivals supported by NCAC and the GT Board are: Kankurang Festival, Janjanbureh (Georgetown), Bainunka International Festival, Dance Gambia Festival, Sutukoba Festival, Nianija Kawral Festival, Jemma Chossan Festival, Abuko Jali Suso Festival.