By Momodou Gagigo
The Gambia Civil Aviation Authority has joined the global aviation community in commemorating Aviation Safety Week 2026, as the Government called on industry stakeholders to strengthen responsibility, accountability, and cooperation to keep the country’s skies safe.
The GCAA is observing the week under the theme “Safety First: Building a Culture of Responsibility,” renewing attention to safety across the national aviation industry. Officials said the campaign is intended not only as a commemoration but as a reminder that safety must remain the foundation of every aviation operation.
Speaking at the ceremony, Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Babucarr Jobe said aviation is a vital pillar of The Gambia’s tourism industry and a major gateway linking the country to international markets.
“For The Gambia, aviation is far more than a means of transportation. It is a critical pillar of our tourism industry and an important gateway connecting our country to the rest of the world,” the Minister said.
He argued that tourist confidence begins long before visitors reach hotels, beaches and cultural sites. Travelers must first trust the safety and reliability of the country’s airports, airlines and aviation professionals. For that reason, he said, aviation safety should be treated as an integral part of tourism development, given the sector’s dependence on international air links.
Every visitor arriving in The Gambia, Jobe noted, generates economic opportunities for hotels, restaurants, tour operators, artisans, transport providers, cultural practitioners and other businesses that rely on tourism. A lapse in aviation safety, he implied, would therefore have consequences far beyond the airport.
The Minister stressed that a genuine safety culture requires more than rules and manuals. Safety, he said, must shape everyday decisions and professional conduct.
“A culture of safety means that safety becomes part of our everyday thinking and conduct. It means that procedures are respected, risks are identified and addressed proactively, incidents are reported honestly, lessons are learned, and everyone understands that there can be no compromise when human lives are at stake,” he said.
He called for closer cooperation among the GCAA, airlines, airport operators, air traffic service providers, security agencies, ground handlers, maintenance organizations, tourism operators and other institutions. Continued investment in infrastructure, technology, training, human capital and institutional capacity, he added, would be essential to building a resilient aviation sector.
Jobe also linked aviation safety to sustainability, saying the Government wants The Gambia to stand out as a competitive, attractive and responsible tourism destination. He welcomed Aviation Safety Week as a chance for stakeholders to raise awareness, share knowledge, examine emerging risks and renew their collective commitment to safety.
Participants, he said, should go beyond speeches and convert the theme into practical action in their own institutions.
The Government, he added, remains committed to a safe, secure, efficient and sustainable aviation sector that supports not only tourism but also trade, investment, employment, regional integration and national development. He urged stakeholders to promote openness, accountability and continuous improvement.
GCAA Director General Fansu Bojang said the theme speaks directly to one of the Authority’s core values. “This theme is not only about celebrating, but it clearly speaks to one of our critical core values, which is safety, which remains a key component in the effective and efficient operations of any viable aviation business,” he said.
Officials urged all parties to work together so that every passenger traveling through Gambian airspace can do so with confidence. The week is expected to give stakeholders a platform to review current practices, discuss emerging challenges and strengthen measures to protect passengers, aviation personnel and the public. The event concluded with certificates of recognition for deserving staff and a site visit.
