Written by Pa Nderry M’Bai
The Gambian government has declared its 2021 tourism season open, as tourism minister Hamat Bah says vaccinated visitors are free to come to the impoverished West African nation for winter holidays. Bah made the announcement during President Barrow’s meet the farmers’ tour.
“President Barrow wants to see that The Gambian youths are employed again. He wants to see the tourism industry back again. It has been his major concern. Therefore, the two ministries have agreed upon consultation that with effect from October 1st 202, any visitor to The Gambia, if you have an q and r co, you have a certificate that you are fully vaccinated, you are free to come to this country without prc test or without any rapid test and you will not be quarantined,” Bah declared on Wednesday.
The Gambia had suffered a devastating economic blow because of the COVID-19 pandemic global lock down. Tourism accounts for the greater chunk of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). With the global lock down, hotels and restaurants have been forced to close in the tiny West African nation.
The government says the state reopening would help create jobs for the nation’s massive unemployed population, particularly the youths.
Bah had this message for visiting tourists:
“You are not required to come with a prc certificate. You will not be subject to rapid test, and you will not be quarantined, provided that you present a certificate showing that you are fully vaccinated. And we know the airlines also will not board anybody without a certificate proving that you are vaccinated,” the tourism minister stated.
Meanwhile, some stakeholders of the tourism industry have hailed the government’s move. They said the return of the tourists would help hungry families to put food on the table.