The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is in the process of developing a comprehensive and strategic blueprint for regional tourism development that will look into such diverse issues as cross border tourism, standardization of hospitality facilities and regional branding.
The strategic framework will also address issues such
as common and unified tourism statistical and data systems, harmonised
immigration policies, joint promotional and marketing strategies, market
intelligence sharing and joint product development strategies.
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| Gambian Leader, Yahya Jammeh |
President Yahya Jammeh, whose statement was read on
his behalf by The Gambia’s Minister of Basic and Secondary Education on Friday
during the maiden ECOWAS Tourism Ministers Summit held in Banjul, said the
strategic objectives of the comprehensive framework are to render ECOWAS
destinations more interesting and attractive, increase the volume of inbound
tourism to and within the ECOWAS zone and at the same time create investment
awareness for tourism development in the sub-region.
“I am equally aware of the challenges and hurdles
along the way towards the realization of these noble objectives, which among
others, include the tenuous and inconsistent international flights
availability, often limited internal transport links, cross border access
difficulties including cumbersome visa formalities,” the Gambian president
said.
However, he noted, these bottlenecks are not
insurmountable, and with commitment and dedication of all ECOWAS countries and
stakeholders in the sub-region, there can be significant improvements that will
facilitate sub-regional tourism, trade and business in general.
