Event Date: 25 February 2025
Venue: Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara, International Trade Conference Center
(Banjul) – Women and young entrepreneurs in The Gambia are set to benefit from investment in sustainable, community-based tourism across the country, with the launch of a project led by the government, supported by the International Trade Centre (ITC) and funded by the European Union.
The Gambia EU Youth Empowerment Project (YEP) – Tourism and Creative Industries is an ITC initiative that seeks to increase the competitiveness, inclusiveness and sustainability of the tourism sector in The Gambia. The objective is to create and sustain jobs, generate income and boost economic incentives for climate change adaptation and green growth. The project focuses on women and youth as the target beneficiaries.
The Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture and the Ministry of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration and Employment (MOTIE) of the Government of the Republic of The Gambia will lead the project under the EU-Gambia Multiannual Indicative Programme (MIP 2021-2027).
The project takes a market-driven approach, and it will support the country to diversify source markets and attract more visitors all year-round, including tourists with higher purchasing power and reinforcing skills and entrepreneurship development. At the same time, it will boost The Gambia’s offering of green and inclusive tourism services and improve value chain linkages. The project is expected to contribute to long-term economic competitiveness and well-being in The Gambia.
The Gambia, with a GDP of $2.4 billion (2021) and a population of 2.3 million, remains one of the world’s weakest economies, with a small, undiversified economy vulnerable to external shocks, including climate-related risks. Agriculture and tourism, its main sectors, are highly seasonal, straining the economy and labor market. Despite hosting 235,788 tourists in 2019 and contributing 16% of GDP, the tourism sector’s potential remains untapped due to dependence on international tour operators, seasonality, low-budget destination image and poor infrastructure.
Recognizing the sector’s untapped potential, The Gambia’s National Tourism Policy (2021-2030), the Recovery-Focused National Development Plan (2023-2027) and UN Cooperation Framework emphasize a paradigm shift toward sustainable, demand-led product diversification, improved linkages with other sectors, enhanced infrastructure, and the promotion of domestic and people-centered tourism to drive economic growth, employment and revenue generation.
The members of the media are hereby invited to cover this event.
Programme
10.00 Opening Prayers
10:05 Welcoming and introductory remarks by the Minister of Trade, Regional Integration and Employment
10:10 Video on the Project
10: 15 Statement by the Executive Director, International Trade Centre
10:20 Statement by the Ambassador of the European Union to The Gambia
10:25 Statement by a Representative from Private Sector
10.30 Statement by Minister of Tourism and Culture
10:40 Statement by the President His Excellency President Adama Barrow
10.50 Group Photo
11:00 Cocktail
Notes for the Editor
About the implementing partner, the International Trade Centre – The International Trade Centre is the joint agency of the World Trade Organization and the United Nations. ITC assists small and medium-sized enterprises in developing and transition economies to become more competitive in global markets, thereby contributing to sustainable economic development within the frameworks of the Aid-for-Trade agenda and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.T
For more information, visit www.intracen.org.
Follow ITC on Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn | Instagram | Flickr
About the donor, the European Union (EU) – The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 European countries. It is founded on the values of respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect or human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities. It acts globally to promote sustainable development of societies, environment and economies, so that everyone can benefit.
About the EU Youth Empowerment Project – Tourism and Creative Industries – EU Youth Empowerment Project – Tourism and Creative Industries, funded by the European Union, is a 5-year initiative of the International Trade Centre in partnership with Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture and the Ministry of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration and Employment that seeks to increase the competitiveness, inclusiveness and sustainability of the tourism sector in The Gambia. The project focuses on women and youth as the main target beneficiaries. The project will support the country to diversify source markets and attract more visitors year-round, including tourists with higher purchasing power. At the same time, the initiative will boost The Gambia’s offering of green and inclusive tourism services and improve value chain linkages.
For more information, contact:
Bubacarr Trawally
Communication and Knowledge Management
International Trade Centre
T: 3053148
