By: Alieu Ceesay
The Institute of Travel and Tourism of the Gambia recently graduated its class of 2024, which consisted of over one hundred fifty students.
This year’s graduation theme is “Promoting Community Engagement,” which calls for community involvement in promoting tourism in the Gambia.
Globally, tourism promotes economic growth, especially in Africa, where it is a holiday destination for white tourists from European countries.
Tourism sessions last for the last half of the year in the Gambia. This enables visitors to interact with those at home, share culture, and visit various historical places, including the country’s top natural resource, the sea.
As the country’s tourism learning institute prepares to promote hospitality for both tourists and residents at large.
At the 17th graduation ceremony, Mr Adama Bah, the Chairman of the Board of Directors, highlighted some of the local perspectives hindering tourism development in the country.
He included “Tourism” and cultural exploitation, where communities expected to be the beneficiaries are overshadowed. He urges graduates to provide lasting solutions, as these students are believed to have the necessary knowledge to boost tourism in the country.
” This is where you, as graduates Armed with knowledge and innovative thinking, step in. As future leaders, policymakers, entrepreneurs, and global citizens, you can redefine tourism, making it more inclusive, sustainable, and community center.” Bah, the board of directors told graduates.
Professor Pierre Gomez, the Minister of Higher Education Research Science and Technology, reassured government commitments to supporting Terry and Vocational Education Training (TVET) in the Gambia.
He unveiled the Students Improvement Grant, which he said has three components. The first includes responding to the black market’s demand. The second, Prof. said, entails scholarships of $4,000 for institutions and students to access TVET. The third is a start-up for graduates of TVET centers, mainly to promote self-employment and the creation of employers in the country.
“His Excellency President Barrow will take the lead in disbursing funds to the youth of this country who are in TVET centers based on the three windows I mentioned. Over three hundred and ninety-six million dalasi will be given to the youth of this country who are ready to get the skills set and will be trained in all the TVET centers, both private and public. That is what we intend to do.”
Mr Mustapha Njie, the Chief Executive Officer of TAF Global, was the guest speaker at the 17th graduation.
He addresses the graduates to be committed, polite, and honest in their careers.
For his part, Mr Shaikh Tejan Njang, the Head of the school, underscores the challenges faced by the institution, including adequate funds, while highlighting the recent increase in intakes. This has manifested in the school’s improvement in students’ academic performance.
The ITTG boss stated, ” We are not just providing rooms and amenities; we are crafting memories, building relationships, and creating a sense of belonging. “
This year’s graduation study fields include Cooking and Pastry, Tourism and Hospitality, Amadeus Booking System, Cabin Crew and Airport Operations, Intermediate Diploma in Travel and Tourism, and Advanced Diploma in Travel and Tourism.
