Yunus S. Saliu
The maiden summit of the network commenced on 6 and ended on
7 May at Bakadaji Hotel in Kotu with a dinner for all at Tamala Resort.
Presiding over the Annual Summit, Honourable Abdoulie Jobe,
the Gambia Minister for Tourism and Culture (MOTC), welcomed all the esteemed
members of the West African Ecotourism Network to The Gambia, the Smiling Coast
of Africa.
"On behalf of His Excellency, President Adama Barrow,
the government and the people of The Gambia, I want to, first of all, welcome
all of you, the esteemed delegates and participants to this convergence and to
The Gambia the Smiling Coast of Africa. Consider the Gambia, as a home away
from home as you explore the ecotourism in West Africa," he said.
He noted that the occasion was convened to deliberate a very
important theme of ecotourism designed to avail participants of the golden
opportunity to attend informative master classes and network with like-minded
tourism stakeholders from across the continent with a view to cross-fertilise
ideas and perspectives for the development of ecotourism.
He, therefore, expressed heartfelt gratitude to all the
organisers for choosing the Gambia, among many deserving countries to host this
magnificent Summit, while noting that the forum could not have been convened at
a more appropriate time given that it was coming on the heels of another
milestone international convergence “which is the 15th edition of
the OIC Summit that has just been successfully hosted in The Smiling Coast of
Africa”.
Just like the delegates to this summit, Minister Jobe kindly
implored all participants, particularly the international guests, to taste the
delightful sights and sounds of the smiling coast to discover Africa’s genuine
charm, and warm and vibrant hospitality in a tranquil environment.
Introducing ecotourism in the product need, he said, will
require all to adopt innovative approaches to the creation of an appropriate
tourism eco-system in terms of capacity building, critical skills such as
customer care hospitality, basic marketing, e-business cultural diversity
training, entrepreneurship, and most importantly financial support to undertake
sustainable tourism development.
Also, the Minister dilated on different areas which included
sustainable, responsible tourism and diversification tourism as well as
community-based and regional tourism and other pertinent tourism issues.
On a final note, the Honourable Minister thanked WAEN for
their foresight and for giving a helping hand towards the successful rolling
out of this summit, while urging them to continue to work together as a unit to
try to develop and propel ecotourism in the region.
Ma’am Ola Wright, Founder of West African Ecotourism Network
(WAEN), expressed delight in seeing many of the delegates and passionate
individuals gathered at the summit with a shared dedication to the preservation
and celebration of the planet’s incredible natural wonders.
She said that in a world where the delicate balance of
ecosystems is constantly threatened, the importance of ecotourism cannot be
overstated.
“It’s not merely about exploring exotic destinations; it’s
about doing so responsibly, with a profound respect for the environment and
local communities,” she stated while reminding the gathering of the immense
beauty and diversity that surrounds people – from lush rainforests to pristine
coastlines, from majestic mountains to vibrant coral reefs, as the planet
offers endless opportunities for exploration and discovery.
“With this privilege comes a responsibility – a
responsibility to protect and preserve these treasures for generations to come,”
she stated, adding: “We come together to celebrate those who are leading the
way in sustainable travel and ecotourism initiatives. We applaud the efforts of
individuals, organisations, and businesses that prioritise environmental
conservation, community engagement, and cultural preservation in their
endeavors.”
Ma’am Loiuse Twining-Ward from the World Bank gave an
updated presentation of the West Africa Ecotourism Network, with lots of
presentation from different presenters and also through the webinar.
The ”wo-day Annual Summit was organised by the West Africa
Ecotourism Network and supported by the World Bank, PPIAF, WACA, PROBLUE and
WATO.
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