• Your Excellency, the President of the Republic of The Gambia;
• Honourable Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture;
• Honourable Ministers;
• Honourable Members of the National Assembly;
• World Bank Resident Representative;
• Members of the Diplomatic and Consular Corps;
• Permanent Secretaries
• Chairman and members of the GTBoard Governing Board
• Directors General and staff of GTBoard, GHTI and NCAC;
• Director Generals
• Managing Directors
• Senior Government Officials;
• Development Partners;
• Project Director and staff of the TDRGP;
• Country Representative of ITC and Coordinator of the EU/YEP Creative Industry Project;
• Representatives of the Private Sector and Tourism Industry;
• Distinguished Guests;
• Ladies and Gentlemen.

It is my honour and privilege, on behalf of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, its satellite institutions, and the Project Implementation Unit of the TDRGP to warmly welcome Your Excellency, the President of the Republic, and all distinguished guests to this important national occasion, marking the official launch of a series of strategic initiatives to reposition and accelerate the development of The Gambia’s tourism sector.

Your Excellency, your presence today underscores Government’s recognition of tourism as a strategic driver of economic diversification, employment creation and inclusive, sustainable development. We are particularly honoured that you have graciously accepted to preside over and officially launch these important initiatives.

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen,

Today’s occasion goes beyond the unveiling of strategic documents and a new destination brand identity. It marks a significant milestone in defining a clear direction for the future of Gambian tourism, strengthening our competitiveness in the global marketplace and unlocking new opportunities for investment and inclusive economic growth.

The National Tourism Policy and Strategy provides an updated framework for the sustainable governance and development of the sector, setting a clear direction towards building a resilient, competitive, inclusive and environmentally sustainable tourism industry.

Complementing this is the Marketing, Branding and Investment Promotion Strategy, which seeks to strengthen The Gambia’s positioning in regional and international markets, diversify our source markets, attract investment and consolidate our reputation as a leading heritage, river and ecotourism destination in the sub-region.

Equally significant is the introduction of the new Destination Gambia Brand Identity, which gives renewed expression to our national tourism image and communicates the distinctive character, heritage and experiences that make The Gambia an attractive destination for visitors, investors and strategic partners.

Furthermore, the Six Priority Investment Projects translate our strategic ambitions into tangible investment opportunities across key destinations and tourism subsectors. They are designed to stimulate private sector participation, attract investment, generate employment, strengthen local enterprises and ensure that tourism delivers greater benefits to our communities.

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen,

The success of these initiatives will depend not merely on their adoption, but on effective implementation, strong institutional coordination, sustained investment and meaningful partnerships among Government, the private sector, development partners and local communities.

The Ministry, working closely with its satellite institutions and stakeholders, remains committed to providing the leadership and coordination required to translate these frameworks into measurable results. Ultimately, our success will be reflected in a stronger investment climate, improved visitor experiences, enhanced livelihoods and a greater contribution of tourism to national development.

Allow me to express our profound appreciation to the World Bank for its invaluable financial support towards the development of these strategic initiatives. We also commend the Project Implementation Unit of the Tourism Diversification and Resilience in The Gambia Project, under the leadership of Mr. Momodou Ceesay, for its effective coordination and facilitation.

Our sincere gratitude also goes to the institutions, technical experts, consultants and private sector stakeholders whose contributions and expertise made this milestone possible.

I also wish to acknowledge the Honourable Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture for his leadership, vision and commitment to advancing the development of the sector.

To our development partners and prospective investors, we invite you to view today's launch as an opportunity to deepen your engagement with The Gambia. The opportunities are significant, the potential is immense, and Government remains committed to fostering an enabling environment for sustainable tourism investment.

Your Excellency,

As you officially launch these important initiatives, we look forward to your continued guidance and leadership as we embark on a renewed chapter in the development of Gambian tourism.

Once again, Your Excellency and distinguished guests, welcome, and thank you for honouring us with your presence.

I thank you for your kind attention