The 15 Russian tour operators and journalists who arrived in The Gambia about two weeks ago have expressed their delight with the tourism prospects of the country.

Speaking to reporters at the departure hall of the Gambia International Airport on Thursday, last week, Olga Barkhortina, one of the group members said: “What we have seen is very unusual, exotic and exciting compared to other parts of Africa that we have visited. We have seen a lot of interesting things, they are different from what you can see anywhere in the world.”

The group said they are very satisfied with what they have seen and are ready to begin operations in earnest. “The Gambia is a destination we would be very pleased to sell to our customers so that everybody will come to enjoy the good tourism facilities that are available in this destination,” Olga noted.

The group plans to run a ‘Week of The Gambia’ upon their arrival in Russia. Farimang Manneh, the executive director of G-Travel in Russia - who led the group to The Gambia, has revealed that the first Russian tourists flight will be due in the Gambia in the month of January 2009.