Association of Small-Scale Enterprise and Tourism (ASSET), in collaboration with The Gambia Tourism Authority (GTA) that aims to render assistance to small-scale enterprises in the tourism industry to enable them trade fairly and pursue sustainable development; contributes to the conservation of the physical environment, social, and economic welfare of the community in The Gambia, has on Friday held a press briefing to enlight the general public on the first tourism information centre, called “cultural encounters,” located at Garba Jahumpa Road, Bakau.

Seedy Conteh, Marketing and Event Officer of ASSET informed the journalists that the aim of this information centre is to reveal the cultural diversity of The Gambia, through arts and crafts, community tourism, as well as promoting cultural encounters between hosts and guests.

Outlining the role of ASSET in The Gambia, Mr. Conteh, said among others, it contributes to the improvement of tourism products in The Gambia and helps to bring development to the country, provides assistance to members with product development, marketing, training, quality control and access to finance, develop partnership with government and other institutions and external organisations where appropriate.

 However, Mr. Conteh, informed journalists at the briefing that “the centre is a good meeting place and its mango-cafe provides snacks and drinks in a relaxed atmosphere, urging all visitors coming into The Gambia- either as adventurers, package tourists, independent travellers, both the local and international NGO, diplomats, expatriates to visit them at the cultural encounters during their working hours - 10:00am to 7pm from Monday to Saturday.