THE SMILING COAST HOSTS THE 35TH ANNUAL ATA CONGRESS FROM THE 17TH -20 TH MAY 2010 - TO DISCOVER AFRICA’S GENUINE WARMTH
In a bid to promote the Gambia as an interesting and exciting destination, various strategies have been designed by the Gambia Tourism Authority in tandem with the stakeholders in the travel and tourism fraternity, to attract visitors to the Smiling Coast in an ongoing basis. As such one of the strategies identified has been the hosting of international conferences such as the Africa Travel Association Congress.
In addition to the huge international exposure and marketing benefit leading to the Congress, it offers many travel professionals the opportunity to sample and experience The Gambia’ s renowned hospitality and products. Besides boosting national pride, such events bring along enormous fringe benefits in terms of out of pocket expenditure, job creation and related multi-plier effects.
ATA’s Annual congress will bring together travel, tourism, transport and hospitality professionals from around the world to network with their counterparts in the Gambia and the region. This four day forum seeks to address a myriad of topics such as the future of Africa’s tourism industry, tourism growth trends, airline access to Africa and investment opportunities in the hospitality industry and others.
The Honourable Yusupha Kah, Minister of Trade, Industry and Employment at a recent business forum expressed strong support of the government for trade & business opportunities through the partnership envisaged by the Ministry of Tourism & Culture.
According to Edward Bergmann, Executive Director of the Africa Travel Association ‘ ATA seeks to promote African travel, tourism and business at a global level which is done through various strategies including publicity and above all networking among various professionals to share experience and best practise in the domain of enterprise, business and tourism development’.
To ensure a successful Congress, a robust public- private sector Apex Body – Gambia ATA Chapter has been constituted comprising public and private sector operatives and tasked to coordinate the activities of other subsidiary committees in the context of robust public- private sector collaboration. According to the Chair of the Gambia ATA Chapter- Mr Alieu Secka, “this is a great opportunity for the GAMBIA to showcase its tourism credentials to the wider world and particularly those interested in Africa. The Congress delegates will sample and experience the essence and quality of the Smiling Coast and return to do business.’ He further said that ‘an impressive and interactive programme is being drawn up, in addition to the very high profile and educative side programmes designed to engender focused discussion on various thematic issues, befitting an event of this magnitude and dimension’.
In terms of tourism facilities and the necessary manpower to handle an event of this magnitude, The Gambia has all the necessary credentials for this, not to mention our legendary hospitality and abundant peace and tranquillity all of which are a sine quo non for a successful congress hence the Theme ‘ Discover Africa’s genuine warmth’.
Further buttressing this fact, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Tourism and Culture- Kaliba Senghore, in a recent interview, emphasised that ‘The Gambia as a destination is synonymous with a peaceful climate that ensures the security of tourists who always move about freely, safely and comfortably’. He further stressed on the fact that ‘as far as ATA is concerned, the stakeholders are ready to promote Gambia in its fullest potential to leave lasting impression on the American market and our brothers and sisters from the Diaspora’.
The Gambia last hosted the ATA Congress in 1984. The effective public private sector collaboration is essential in the successful hosting of this landmark event.
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