By Adama Makasuba
The luxury cruise ship Oceania Vista docked at Banjul Port on Tuesday with 663 passengers on board, bringing hundreds of international visitors to The Gambia and reinforcing the country’s growing position as an emerging cruise tourism destination.
The vessel, which departed from Miami and made stopovers in South Africa and Cape Verde before arriving in Banjul, was welcomed by officials from the Gambia Tourism Board and tourism stakeholders.
Speaking shortly after receiving the passengers, the Director General of the Gambia Tourism Board, Ida Jeng-Njie, described the visit as another major milestone for the country’s tourism industry.
“This is a vessel that started in Miami and had stopovers in South Africa, Cape Verde and now The Gambia before proceeding to Europe. It is very important and very key that we have this share of the market,” she said.
Jeng-Njie revealed that the tourism board has witnessed a steady increase in cruise ship arrivals and is implementing strategies aimed at attracting even more vessels to Gambian shores.
“We have seen a great increase in the number of such vessels and the Gambia Tourism Board has taken it seriously. We have developed a strategy to see how we can add more value so that we can continue attracting more of these ships,” she said.
The tourism chief said she toured the vessel and interacted with crew members and passengers, many of whom spoke positively about their experience in The Gambia.
“I interviewed some of the people on board and they were very happy with the destination, especially with the people. They said they have “outrage, alarmism, and politically charged narratives.”
Addressing the electricity crisis, the Government said efforts were underway to r estore stability through ongoing interventions, infrastructure investments, and regional energy cooperation initiatives, particularly under the OMVG framework.
It also defended its record in the energy sector, arguing that recent challenges should be viewed in the context of what it described as significant progress made under the administration of President Adama Barrow.
According to the statement, the country has experienced one of its most stable electricity supply periods in recent history over the past year due to reforms and investments undertaken by the Government.
The Government acknowledged that the current disruptions were regrettable but argued that temporary technical difficulties should not be used to fuel what it called Mr Sankareh added that even developed countries are facing similar energy constraints, pointing to international price increases and supply instability as key factors.
“There is not a single government on the face of the Earth that is not affected by these global realities,” he said.
He also highlighted The Gambia’s participation in the regional energy network through the Organisation for the Development of the Gambia River Basin (OMVG), which includes The Gambia, Guinea, GuineaBissau, and Senegal, describing it as a system based on interdependence. been to Cape Verde, South Africa and other destinations, but The Gambia is very nice.
Our biggest strength is our people,” she said. According to her, some passengers who had initially planned to remain on the ship eventually decided to explore the country and later returned with positive reviews.
“Gambians are hospitable and they really enjoyed themselves. Some of them bought local products and supported our businesses,” she added. Jeng-Njie noted that cruise tourism generates benefits across several sectors, including local craft markets, transport services, tour operations and tourism sites.
“This is not only about tourism. Everybody benefits. Our craft vendors benefit, our tour operators benefit and the communities they visit also benefit. It is a win-win situation for everyone,” she said.
She further attributed the growing interest in It further called on political parties, media houses, civil society actors, and members of the public to exercise restraint and responsibility in discussing national issues.
“Constructive criticism is welcome in every democratic society, but the deliberate politicisation of temporary national challenges for narrow partisan gain does not serve the interests of the country or its people,” it added.
The Government reassured citizens that work continues to stabilise electricity supply and improve service delivery, while urging the public to rely on official sources for information and reject what it described as false and misleading content.
“We are not dependent; we are interdependent,” he stated. Despite the ongoing disruptions, Mr. Sankareh expressed optimism that the country will eventually achieve stable and reliable electricity supply, saying it remains a national priority.
“I would hope and aspire to a day when you and I will wake up every day without any sporadic electricity problems,” he said. “That is the hope of the President, it is the hope of every genuine Gambian.”
The Gambia to the country’s affordability and hospitality. “Currently what we are seeing is that The Gambia is value for money. That is why we are seeing the increase. Our people are friendly and visitors appreciate that,” she said.
The Director General disclosed that the country is expecting around 15 cruise ship visits this season, exceeding initial forecasts, and expressed optimism that even more vessels will visit next year.
“We are working closely with stakeholders and implementing a strategy to ensure we attract more cruise ships. We are confident that the numbers will continue to grow,” she said.
As part of the visit, the captain of the Oceania Vista presented a commemorative plaque to the destination, while the Gambia Tourism Board offered a symbolic gift representing the country’s identity as the “Smiling Coast of Africa.”
