On August 14, 2024, key stakeholders from The Gambia's Tourism and Hospitality Sector gathered for a workshop to validate the Gambia Tourism and Hospitality Institute (GTHI) Curriculum and Capacity Needs Assessment Report. The event marked a major milestone in the ongoing efforts to reshape the future of tourism education in the country.

The Tourism Diversification and Resilience in The Gambia Project (TDRGP), under the Ministry of Tourism and Culture (MoTC), organized the workshop to review and validate a report that addresses critical areas for improvement in GTHI’s curriculum, human capacity, and training infrastructure. The report, developed by Sfere Consulting, aims to align GTHI’s offerings with the fast-changing needs of the tourism and hospitality industry.

In her opening statement, Mrs. Isatou Drammeh, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism and Culture, underscored the significance of the assessment, noting that it aligns with the National Tourism Policy 2021-2031. She emphasized the need for a comprehensive review of GTHI’s current operations, the capacity of its teaching staff, and the suitability of its training materials. According to Mrs. Drammeh, the assessment also seeks to identify gaps in skills required by the private sector, particularly in areas where training is currently unavailable from GTHI or other national institutions.

She highlighted the pressing need to expand GTHI’s scope and infrastructure, stating, "Ensuring quality and high standards of service delivery have become one of the key success factors for any tourism destination. This success is closely linked to product development and destination marketing." Mrs. Drammeh also stressed that the evolving dynamics of the industry demand new ideas focused on wellness, service quality, and culinary innovation.

The Deputy Permanent Secretary noted that the current state of the workforce presents challenges, especially with the brain drain caused by the growth of cruise ship employment opportunities, which are attracting skilled workers from the local tourism industry. "If this trend continues and no remedial measure is put in place, the industry's manpower will be significantly affected, and that will be a massive blow to our quest for development," she warned.

In addition to this workforce drain, there is a noticeable shortage of Gambians in top managerial positions across the tourism and hospitality sectors. An estimated 10% of the hospitality workforce consists of expatriates in senior roles, which is a barrier to sustainable sector growth. This highlights the importance of capacity building and educational retraining for hospitality instructors, as well as the need to overhaul GTHI’s curriculum to make it more market-oriented.

Key Insights from the Assessment

The validation workshop focused on the key findings of the GTHI Capacity Needs Assessment, which include:
- A comprehensive review of GTHI’s operations, staff capacity, and the relevance of its training materials.
- Identification of skills gaps in the Gambian tourism and hospitality sectors that are not currently addressed by GTHI or other institutions.
- A plan for GTHI’s redevelopment as a leading training institution, with recommendations to align its curriculum with industry needs.
These findings reflect the need for a robust education framework that can not only train students in traditional hospitality roles but also prepare them for emerging trends and challenges in the industry.

A Call for Collaboration

Mrs. Drammeh concluded her remarks by calling on all stakeholders to provide their critical insights and feedback on the report, ensuring it reflects the true needs of the industry. "I implore you all to review the report critically and provide comments, however challenging, to help finalize a version that is both high in quality and relevant to our industry’s needs," she said.
She also reassured participants of the Ministry’s continued support, stating, "We are committed to delivering on our mandate to strengthen the tourism sector, and we value your contributions to this important process."

Path Forward for GTHI and the Industry

The workshop marks a significant step forward in improving GTHI’s role in shaping the future of tourism education in The Gambia. The validation of the curriculum and capacity needs report will be followed by further feedback from participants, with the final version expected to guide GTHI’s transformation into a more responsive and dynamic institution.

The outcome of this workshop will directly influence the Tourism Policy and Strategy 2022-2032, ensuring that GTHI is better positioned to meet the industry’s evolving needs and provide high-quality training to the next generation of hospitality professionals.

For further information on the GTHI report or the Tourism Diversification and Resilience in The Gambia Project, please contact:
[Rohey Samba-Jallow, Communication & Stakeholder Engagment Specialist, [email protected] ]