After four days of intense training covering sales and marketing, destination management and market penetration strategies, new trends in global travel and tourism challenges and opportunities, and strategic skills to improve regional and intra-African commerce and tourism trade; with a field exposure on Gambia’s tourism sector; about 89 members of the National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA) have been licensed as Gambia Tourism Destination Specialists by the Gambia Institute of Tourism and Hospitality.

In a brief ceremony supervised by Mr. Alieu Baldeh, a member of the Tourism Committee for the Gambian Parliament, assisted by NANTA President – Yinka Folami, the newly certified Destination Marketing Specialists were enjoined to run and make profound impact on cultural tourism growth in the Gambia and across Africa with the experience and knowledge acquired during the training programme. Baldeh who was a regular face throughout the four days training of the Nigerian travel trade professionals, disclosed that he was impressed with the seriousness and determination of the trainees, majority on their first visit to Gambia and assured them of the support and encouragement by the Gambian government and parliament.

“We are happy to welcome you here and also see how serious you were during your lectures, and The Gambian Government cannot thank the leadership of NANTA enough for bringing you all here to the smiling coast of Africa. We see cultural tourism as our main revenue commodity, and by the grace of God, all of you here will help Gambia tourism to become a household name in Nigeria nay Africa. Your reputation as a responsible association of professionals proceeds you, and by the grace of God, all of you shall return home to your destination safely”, Honourable Alieu Baldeh stated.

NANTA President, Yinka Folami reiterated the importance of training and retraining exposure for the members of the association, urging the new destination specialists not to rest on their oars , adding that those who fail to seek knowledge would invariably meet with unexplainable challenges in a dynamic and ever evolving travel and tourism industry.

“Do not go hide your certificates in a cupboard or merely display it on your walls, but intentionally go out there and put the knowledge and experiences gained here to use, and help change the tourism and commerce trade narratives between Nigeria and Gambia” Folami urged.

The NANTA delegates will depart Banjul, Gambia, back Nigeria tonight on Airpeace – the official carrier for the association’s training program expedition.