By Tabora Bojang
The Gambia Tourism board’s two-day food and beverage festival ended at the Green Mamba beach bar in Senegambia last Saturday.
In collaboration with long-term partners Banjul Breweries limited, Africell and the GTHI, the 5th edition of the event brought together both local and international cuisine, local juice sellers, handicraft sellers, and pre-packed food dealers and others.
The first day of the festival began with a welcome remark from the director general of the Gambia Tourism Board, followed by a live musical performance featuring some Gambian Artists like Baddibunka, Nyancho and Magnificent Joe.
The second day was interspersed with eating and musical chair competition for kids and a night show by Gambia’s kora king Jaliba Kuyateh, who organisers say has been a regular attendant since inception of the fiesta some five years ago.
This year’s event was more diversifying with the inclusion of local handicraft dealers in the tourism sector.
The marketing director of the GTB Mr. Adama Njie, said this year’s event was very successful with a huge turnout.
“As I am speaking, we sold more tickets and more corporate tables compared to last year. Companies have actually supported the event and that shows that they really embraced stalls and from our perspective in terms of our mandate to promote destination Gambia as an all-year round tourism destination, we cannot do it alone but with the support of other stakeholders,” he said.
He explained that the Gambia Tourism Board is mandated by the law for the promotion of destination Gambia and they are very determined to diversify and expand the products to involve everyone.
