Vendors at the Fajara Craft Market have become the happiest entrepreneurs in the country, since January 3 this year when Tourism Minister Fatou Mas Jobe-Njie was handed the keys to the D5.5 million futuristic edifice built by Construct Gambia Limited – a construction company of first class standard.
The new complex contains 48 stalls that can be utilised by 96 vendors.
In her opening address as the chairperson of the occasion, Hon. Jobe-Njie, Minister of Tourism and Culture, underscored the importance of building the craft market in Fajara, saying it is part of the mandate to further develop tourism products within the tourism industry. “The occasion marks yet the arrival of another significant milestone in the annals of tourism development in The Gambia,” she said.
Given the significant contribution tourism has in the country’s socio-economic development endeavours, Mrs Jobe-Njie could not have said more than this: “The development of craft markets within the tourism development area therefore remains a cornerstone of my Ministry’s policy on tourism, for the benefit of tourists who constitute the major clientele as well as Gambians whose products are sold at craft markets.”
As a hub for preserving the nation’s heritage and cultural identity, Minister Jobe-Njie urged the beneficiaries to view the craft markets as avenues where the country’s heritage of fine and plastic arts are showcased, saying the market will provide opportunity for Gambians to benefit from their creativity through sale of their products and craft bought by tourists as souvenirs and taken away to their countries of origin, which will in one way or the other contribute to making The Gambia known outside.
She continues: “Maintaining our competitiveness in the craft sector also contributes to our competitiveness as a destination, because the sum total of all that the ‘Smiling Coast’ offers as a destination, constitutes in reality the selling points of the destination that captures the eyes, hearts and minds of the potential tourist or traveler, which eventually lures him or her to choose our destination for a holiday.”
Minister Jobe-Njie urged vendors and stakeholders concerned to work together to ensure the market operates within the parameters of best practices so that tourists walk into it freely and orderly to avoid any hassles, either by vendors or ‘bumsters’.
Oreme Joiner, chairman of the Board of Directors of the Gambia Tourism Board (GTB), described tourism as an important sector that contributes in no small measure to the socio-economic development of the country.
Craft markets are an important component of the tourism product and as such should be given due consideration and protection for sustainable use.
Mr Joiner used the occasion to reflect on the Board’s efforts at similar projects, reminiscing in 2008 the completion of the Bungalow Beach Craft Market (commonly known as the BB Craft Market), the Bakau Craft Market and the renovation of the Sunwing Craft Market. He said they have also embarked on fencing the Brikama Craft Market.
The Board, he says, attaches great importance to the development of the local economy and its mandate to promote, develop and regulate the tourism industry by way of promoting local arts and culture.
This underpins the Board’s strong desire to revitalise tourism in terms of quality and standards, with a view to ensuring the sustainable development of this vital sector, he added.
He expressed gratitude and appreciation to Minister Mas Jobe-Njie, acknowledging that without her inspiration, dynamism, dedication and commitment, they would have found it very difficult to achieve success.
According to Mr Joiner, Minister Jobe-Njie is the pioneer of the initiative and has worked tirelessly with them throughout to ensure she fulfills the promise she made to the vendors of the craft market when she lasted visited them.
"Vendors and stakeholders concerned are expected to work together to ensure the market operates within the parameters of best practices so that tourists walk into it freely and orderly to avoid any hassles, either by vendors or ‘bumsters’"He further extended his board’s appreciation to other stakeholders and Farrah Shams, who is not only the sole financier of the Fajara Craft Market project, but also a significant contributor towards the fencing of the Brikama Craft Market.
Farrah Shams of the Construct Gambia Ltd, in his brief handing-over speech, thanked President Yahya Jammeh and his government for giving Construct Gambia Ltd the opportunity to execute the project.
"Craft markets are an important component of the tourism product and as such should be given due consideration and protection for sustainable use."
Mariam Njie, president of Fajara Craft Market, expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Tourism and Culture for providing such a modern market for them. At the end of the ceremony, the minister and delegation were led on a conducted tour of the market.
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