Africa-Press – Gambia. Four key government agencies have recently benefited from donations of vital equipment to enhance tourism data collection, analysis, and dissemination.
The Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture (MOTAC), in collaboration with the Project Implementation Unit (PIU) of the Tourism Diversification and Resilience in The Gambia Project (TDRGP), officially handed over the equipment to the beneficiary institutions: the Gambia Bureau of Statistics (GBoS), Gambia Tourism Board (GTBoard), Gambia Immigration Department (GID), and the National Centre for Arts and Culture (NCAC).
The handing over ceremony was held at the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture conference room in Banjul.
The equipment donation forms part of a broader effort by the Ministry to strengthen evidence-based tourism planning and policy development and to support the operations of the Management Information System for Tourism (MIST).
Presiding over the handing-over ceremony, the Minister of Tourism, Arts, and Culture, Hon. Abdoullahi Jobe, stated that the event was more than a routine transfer of equipment, it symbolized a shared commitment to transforming how The Gambia understands, measures, and grows its tourism sector through the use of accurate data.
He revealed that assessments to improve the national tourism statistics system exposed key gaps in the country’s tourism data infrastructure. “The recommendations from these assessments formed the blueprint for what we are implementing today through the TDRGP, supported by the World Bank’s IDA grant,” the Minister explained.
The donated items are high-performance computers, industry-grade tablets, workstations, and server infrastructure they are tailored to the operational needs of each institution.
The GTBoard will utilize the tools for market intelligence and tourism trend analysis, GBoS will enhance digital field data collection for improved accuracy, NCAC will apply the equipment to track cultural tourism metrics, and GID will be equipped with solar infrastructure at six border posts to mitigate power disruptions, along with 21 workstations and related equipment including passport scanners, printers, and servers to strengthen MIDAS operations.
Minister Jobe emphasized that the Ministry will also use its share of the equipment for policy monitoring and strategic decision-making.
“These resources come with responsibility,” he stressed. “Each institution must ensure proper maintenance, security, and optimal use. That means implementing maintenance protocols, scheduling regular technical reviews, and designating staff to oversee equipment usage.”
He further highlighted the need to establish a comprehensive Tourism Satellite Account (TSA), which would allow the country to accurately measure tourism’s real contribution to the national economy including indirect benefits across other sectors.
“This initiative will outlast any project or administration. It will ensure future decisions are based on facts, not assumptions,” he said.
The Minister expressed appreciation to partners such as the World Bank for their technical and financial support, Acorn Consultants for their foundational research, and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) for advising on technical specifications for MIDAS-related equipment.
He also commended the project team for efficiently managing the procurement process and the beneficiary institutions for their collaboration.
Before concluding, Minister Jobe challenged the recipients to use the equipment to foster institutional collaboration, ask critical questions about the tourism sector, and pursue data-driven answers. “Maintain them with care, share knowledge generously, and remember that behind every data point are real people – tourism workers, entrepreneurs, artists, and communities whose livelihoods depend on our stewardship of this vital sector,” he urged.
Earlier, Momodou Ceesay, Project Coordinator for TDRGP, welcomed guests and underscored the significance of the equipment for the recipient institutions. A representative from the Gambia Immigration Department, on behalf of the beneficiaries, also extended gratitude to MOTAC and the PIU of TDRGP for their support.
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