As the flurry of activities marking the 14th anniversary of the July 22nd Revolution intensifies, Hon Nancy Njie, the secretary of state for Tourism and Culture, on Friday, laid the foundation stone of a D225 million hotel in Tujereng, Kombo South, Western Region.

The proposed hotel is called Mangrove Beach Club, located on the beach of Tujereng. The ceremony was attended by several secretaries of state, senior government officials, media practitioners, a cross-section of members of the community.

According to official reports, the construction process has been compartmentalised into three phases: Phase one comprises of 20 cottages and a club house; Phase Two will be a bird sanctuary and a golf course; while Phase Three will be a club house and docks.

At the event, SoS Njie extended a warm welcome to the proprietor and board of directors of the newly proposed hotel on behalf of the president.

She informed the gathering that tourism contributes between 16 to 18 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product and provides jobs for 20,000 people, adding that is the largest foreign exchange earner for the country.

She assured the investors of her department’s commitment to quality delivery in the tourism sector and reiterated President Jammeh’s commitment towards the attainment of Vision 2020, especially in transforming The Gambia into a tourist paradise and a major tourist destination in the world.

Alieu Mboge, the director general of the Gambia Tourism Authority, described the proposed hotel as a new concept in Gambia tourism, which upon its completion will undoubtedly add a new dimension to the industry.

Mr Mboge observed the need for more emphasis on quality in order to attract high spending tourists into the country. The GTA boss also expressed his institution’s continued efforts to attract potential investors into the country.

For his part, Thomas C Heise, the chairman and chief executive officer of the Mangrove Beach Club Hotel, gave a brief historical background of the hotel, which according to him, will be the first Bermuda-style private club in the whole of West Africa. He informed the guests that the hotel is an an eco-friendly five star private club.

Mr Heise, an Irish national, expressed gratitude to President Jammeh and the government for according him the opportunity to invest in The Gambia.
Other speakers at the occasion included the Alkalo of Tujereng, Karamo Bojang. The ceremony was chaired by Aziz Willand.