By Janefrances Chibuzor
Gambia is courting Nigeria for stronger tourism and business ties, positioning Nigerians as key partners in growing visitor flows and cross-border opportunities.
Tourism officials want Nigerian travel professionals and storytellers to take Destination Gambia beyond a holiday product by creating packages, partnerships and compelling destination narratives.
“The Smiling Coast” cocktail evening brought the message to life, blending signature cocktails, networking and Gambian hospitality into a celebration of stronger Nigeria–Gambia tourism connections.
The Gambia has called for stronger tourism cooperation with Nigeria, seeking deeper partnerships with Nigerian travel businesses to increase visitor traffic, business opportunities and shared economic benefits.
Gambian tourism authorities urged Nigerian tour operators, media practitioners and content creators to promote Destination Gambia, highlighting its beaches, cultural heritage, nature and hospitality.
The engagement culminated in “The Smiling Coast” cocktail and promotional evening, celebrating Gambian warmth and hospitality while creating a networking platform for Nigerian and Gambian tourism stakeholders.
The Gambia has called for stronger tourism cooperation with Nigeria, urging Nigerian travel businesses to see the country not simply as a destination to sell, but as a strategic tourism partner capable of creating greater movement of people, business opportunities and shared economic benefits.
Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture of The Gambia, Honourable Abdoulie Jobe, made the call during an engagement with Nigerian tourism stakeholders, saying stronger partnerships were needed to translate the historical and cultural ties between both countries into measurable tourism results.
Jobe said The Gambia wanted more Nigerians to visit the country and encouraged Nigerian tour operators, travel professionals and other tourism stakeholders to help build that bridge.
“The Gambia is ready for you, the Gambia welcomes you, and we are ready to work with you,” he said.He described tourism as an opportunity to build on the longstanding relationship between Nigeria and The Gambia, noting that both countries share deep historical, cultural and people-to-people ties.
According to him, the goal is to achieve more Nigerians visiting The Gambia, more businesses working together and more opportunities for both countries.
He also urged the Nigerian media to tell the story of The Gambia, describing the country as the “Smiling Coast of Africa” and highlighting its hospitality, cultural heritage and tourism experiences.
Director-General of the Gambia Tourism Board, Mrs Ida Jeng Njie, also invited Nigerian tourism stakeholders to discover and promote Destination Gambia.
Njie said The Gambia, although small in size, offers a wide range of experiences, including beaches, resorts, historic sites, nature reserves, river experiences, cultural attractions and entertainment.
She said the country was particularly interested in working with Nigerian tour operators and travel agents to develop packages, group bookings and other tourism opportunities.
She also encouraged Nigerian influencers, content creators and travel journalists to visit The Gambia, experience the destination themselves and tell its story from their own perspectives.
“We believe in strong and powerful collaboration,” she said, stressing that tourism development depended on people, partnerships, ideas and relationships.
Njie said stronger cooperation between Nigeria and The Gambia could increase travel, create business opportunities and contribute to the growth of tourism across Africa.Supporting the call for stronger connectivity,
Chief Commercial Officer of ValueJet, Trevor Henry, said the airline had been operating flights between Nigeria and The Gambia since May 2025.
He said ValueJet currently operates three weekly flights to Banjul on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, adding that the route was continuing to grow.Henry also disclosed that ValueJet had added Accra, Ghana, to its Banjul route in May 2026, allowing the airline to connect Ghana and The Gambia in addition to its Nigeria service.
He described The Gambia as an attractive African destination and said his personal experiences in the country had reinforced his view of its tourism potential.
