By Aminata Kuyateh
A career outreach programme targeting students at the Gambia Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) has laid bare both the promise and the challenges within the country’s tourism sector, with officials and participants pointing to a widening skills gap and limited awareness of career pathways among young people.
The initiative, held at YMCA along MDI road at Kanifing on Thursday, forms part of efforts to steer students toward opportunities in the tourism and travel industry while addressing unemployment and mismatches between training and industry needs.
From the industry side, Ebrima AB Sanyang of Gambia Tourism Board said the outreach is part of a broader strategy to prepare young people for employment and self-reliance. He emphasised that tourism offers a wide range of opportunities beyond traditional jobs, urging students to explore business ventures and use digital platforms to market their skills.
He explained that the choice of YMCA as a target institution reflects its role as a vocational training hub producing skills directly relevant to the industry.
The initiative, he added, is part of an ongoing nationwide engagement that has also reached universities and secondary schools.
Sanyang further highlighted a growing demand for skilled workers, particularly in areas such as culinary arts, food and beverage services, and hospitality operations.
He attributed this demand to both industry expansion and labour migration, which has created gaps in the workforce.
To maintain service standards, he said, the Tourism Board continues to collaborate with hotels and other stakeholders to strengthen training and ensure alignment with international benchmarks.
During his presentation, Sanyang also outlined The Gambia’s tourism potential, positioning the sector as a key driver of employment and economic growth.
Principal of YMCA, Edrisa Gibba, described the outreach as a timely intervention for a student population drawn from diverse educational backgrounds.
He noted that many trainees enter vocational programmes with limited formal education and weak English proficiency, factors that often hinder comprehension and career planning.
According to him, the programme is designed not only to improve understanding but also to expose students to practical opportunities within the tourism industry. He said a significant number of students begin their training without clear career goals, underscoring the need for early guidance.
“By showcasing roles such as catering, housekeeping, front office operation, and bartending, the initiative broadens their understanding of tourism beyond the traditional perception of hotel work,” Gibba said,
He added that the exposure is expected to motivate students and encourage peer-to-peer knowledge sharing.
Students who attended the session echoed similar sentiments. Sainey Badjie described the outreach as both informative and inspiring, noting that it builds on previous cultural programmes while offering a clearer picture of potential career paths.
Badjie expressed interest in pursuing opportunities within the sector, including entrepreneurship, but raised concerns about limited job openings and the need for sustained support after training.
