Dear Minister Bah,
I was very happy to have you as our Minister of Tourism
and Culture, especially when your portfolio became a committed one. However,
I sense that our tourism sector is sinking and plummeting like the great
Titanic, and your ministry are seeing the development of a catastrophe in
our tourism industry, but that nothing is being done about it as if there is no
ministry in charge of such an important sector.
In another note I learnt with dismay, disappointment that
upon the completion of your pilgrimage from the holy land of Mecca you
proceeded to China for reasons best known to you.
The question one may asked will be is China the major
market for The Gambia tourism industry?
Hon. Your actions shows a clear testimony as far beyond
Pluto that you lack the knowledge, skills and the know how to lead this
auspicious ministry not only with words but with actions. Since we are in the
tourism season, it will be better for you and your administration to formulate
strategies, plans that will increase and boost the number of tourist’s rate
annually. The last time I checked your expertise on tourism you were an
entertainment manager in one of the local hotels.
In 2016 tourism contributed immensely 21.9 % in to our GDP. Therefore as a
Minister you should tasked and asked yourself how to double the 21.9% at the
end of 2017 tourism season.
Please be reminded that The Gambia's tourism industry
receives over 100,000 visitors a year and is the second highest earner of
foreign revenue. Tourists mainly come from Europe with package tour
operators from UK making up over
50% of visitors. The remaining number of visitors arriving from Germany,
Norway, Sweden & other countries. It is estimated that around 44 per cent
of high season (winter) tourists are repeat visitors to the Gambia and Banjul.
The Gambia tourism industry is ranked 168 in the world in terms of absolute
size according to the World Travel
& Tourism Council, 122 in long-term
growth measured over 10 years and 38 in its relative contribution to other
nation's economies.
I remember a song Jeremy Taylor once sang about the
Ministers that ‘minis’ – I feel that you and your ministry are ‘minis-ing’, not
playing open book with us, and that you are deserting us in our time of
need. Here is why: All we hear from
you is that you are travelling or travelled like a vulture without a home.
From your own words “I
can assure you that other members of the coalition are all action-oriented; and
you the people gave us the power to serve you and you have the right to know
and to find out what is happening in every ministry, and in every department of
government.” (Hamat Bah, the point February 08, 2017).
Hon. As per your
above quote I submit to you that The Gambia tourism sector is the least
performing ministry and the tourism contribution to the GDP is expected to fall
drastically by the end of 2017.
Hon. When shall your unnecessary travels
at the burden of the poor tax payer’s end? The amount of money spent on your
travels and Per Diem could have been utilized well to boost the tourism
industry to meet the international market.
This is not the new Gambia we dream
neither The Gambia we want to see where minister’s main duties and
responsibilities are needless traveling’s at the expense of the poor.
Enough is enough we The Gambian youth
will not give a deaf ear to any Minister to ruing our future. Your failure is
ours as it can have a great impact in our lives in the feature. If you cannot
run the ministry as expected I will advised you to kindly submit your
resignation letter as soon as possible to minimize defect.
As the most senior official driving tourism in
our country, we would have expected that you would guide and lead us, that you
would tell us what drastic steps your ministry and stakeholders are taking to
help us to get international tourists to our country, and local ones to our
cities and provinces.
I am not sure how enough local and
international marketing is being done, especially in the newly opened markets. Also
we are receiving no guidance from your Ministry, and our local tourism
authorities about how we keep our businesses afloat, and how we prevent a
bloodbath of restaurant, hotel and guest house closures in the next few months,
which has already started.
Please open the doors, and create dialogue
between the different sectors that feed and sustain the tourism industry. As Minister of Tourism and Culture, you should support
festivals and events that will build a strong economy and vibrant communities,
attract tourists and contribute to job creation especially to the youth. And
continue to measure the contributions of these events and festivals and ensure
that all decisions relating to them are supported by sound economic analysis.
I ask that you continue to work with stakeholders to build
on the Entertainment and Creative Cluster strategy and develop an Arts Policy
Framework. The Framework should help maximize the economic benefits of arts and
culture to individuals and communities. In addition, I ask that you work with The
Gambia Tourism Board (GTB), educators and communities to develop a Gambia
Culture Strategy Plan, so that we are better able to tell our stories and help
a new generation tap their artistic potential. Continuing
to work with the tourism industry and regional tourism organizations to support
the sector’s economic growth and encourage collaboration among tourism industry
partners.
I look forward to working together with you in building
opportunity today, and securing the future for all Gambians.
Sincerely
Saidina Alieu Jarjou
Blogger/Activist/Watchdog
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