The Alkamba Times (TAT) has gathered that Badala Park Hotel and Sand Beach Hotel are to be auctioned after failing to pay rates owed to the Kanifing Municipal Council (KMC), following a High Court judgment.
TAT also learned that Seaview Hotel and Fajara Hotel risk being auctioned, should they fail to abide by the latest payment plans agreed with the nation’s biggest municipal council.
Adama Jammeh, Rates Manager at the KMC, confirmed that Badala Park and Sand Beach hotels are up for auction after a court judgment was delivered in favor of the council.
Ms. Jammeh also disclosed that Seaview and Fajara hotels have similar issues with the council, with which they have agreed on a payment plan.
At the time, she could not say how much money in rates these hotels owe the council and has promised to give TAT the figures immediately after the Eid holidays.
“I can confirm to you that Badala Park Hotel and Sand Beach Hotel are to be auctioned after court judgment delivered in favor of KMC”.
Meanwhile,” Seaview Hotel and Fajara Hotel also risk being auctioned,” according to a reliable source.
A source close to the Gambia Tourism Board (GT Board) also confirmed these developments in the industry, further stating that many more hotels are in a similar situation.
He argued that the failure of hotels to pay rates is largely due to the negative impact of Covid-19, adding that most hotels in the Gambia have not been making any serious business since the global pandemic started.
This source said should the banks start coming after the hotels and other tourism facilities in the country, the industry will be doomed.
“The auctioning of these hotels is a wake-up call to the tourism authorities.”
TAT attempted to communicate with the management of these hotels without success, as the hotel managers at Badala Park and Seaview declined to make any comments on the matter.
Marion Nyang, Executive Secretary of the Gambia Hotels Association, also would not comment when contacted, only promising to get back to us.
