A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was recently signed between Faton Mass Jobe-Nije, Minister of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of the Gambia, and Sheikh Nawaf Bin Jassim Bin Jabor Al-Thani, chairman of Katara Hospitality. Under this MoU, the government of The Gambia has extended Katara Hospitality 18 hectares of land in Bijilo Forest Park on the western African coast with the commitment to build a hospitality complex that will contribute to the development of the tourism sector in the country.
“We welcome Katara Hospitality to the Gambia and we are confident that this investment in Bijilo Forest Park will contribute significantly to boosting the tourism sector not only in the area, but in the country”, commented Faton Mass Jobe –Nije.
“One of the main pillars of our strategic expansion is to invest in emerging markets. By committing to this agreement, our primary goal is to support the development of the local community, while sharing our expertise in the hospitality field and investing into creating a strong partnership and lasting value”, added Al-Thani.
With a pleasant sub-tropical climate, sunshine and sandy beaches and a rich heritage, tourism is the fastest growing sector of the Gambian economy, accounting for about 12 per cent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product. Efforts at tourism diversification are currently directed to developing the Mice market, while elevating the eco-tourism, culture and heritage tourism as well as the sports and health tourism.