As part of the ongoing efforts to increase awareness on Destination Gambia, the Ministry of Tourism and Culture and the Gambia Tourism Board will participate in the World Travel Market Trade Fair in London, UK from 5th – 8 November, 2012.
Destination Gambia, acclaimed as The Smiling Coast of Africa, is globally renowned for its hospitality, friendliness, and leadership in eco-tourism. Tourism in this small West African country dates back to the mid 1960s when a Scandinavian, in the name of Bertil Harding, accidentally discovered The Gambia whilst on an excursion to Cassamance, a township in the southern part of Senegal. Surprised by the breath taking beauty of his discovery, Bertil Harding would cease his visit to Cassamance and soon began organizing excursions from Sweden to the Gambia, the place he termed a Tourist Paradise.
As a Tourism Destination, the Gambia has won hearts and souls particularly with tourists from the United Kingdom, Scandinavia, and Northern Europe. Some of the reasons you would hear as to why Tourists fall in love with The Gambia are…the friendliness, hospitality, and tranquility of the Gambian People espoused by our captivating smiles. It is from these smiles that the slogan The Smiling Coast of Africa was born. Whilst our slogan depicts our predisposition to please and to welcome, Destination Gambia realize the importance tourists place on the environment and it is for this reason that we are fast becoming the Eco-Tourism hotspot of Africa. Visit Sittanunku, Makasutu, Sandele, and Tendaba Camp and you will see why we are so renowned.
As a destination our Unique Selling Points (USPs) are:
- Six Hours flight from Scandinavia and Europe. You are assured of no jet lag with Brussels Airlines
- Unique opportunity to see over 500 species of Birds
- Unique destination offering Sand, Sun, and Sea along with Safari excursions
- Breath taking and captivating hinterland Eco-Tourism products
- UNESCO world acclaimed heritage sites for the culture loving Tourist
- Water sporting & fishing activities…both on the Atlantic Ocean and the River Gambia
- Opportunity to see success stories of Sustainable Tourism Initiatives
- English speaking destination
In view of the above Unique Selling Points, I invite you to Go Discover the Smiling Coast of Africa and help us achieve our objective of growing our Tourism Arrival figures from 165,000 to half a million Tourists.
