By MUHAMMED S. BAH
Mr. Abdoulie Hydara, the Director General of the Gambia Tourism Board (GT Board), said the revenue derived from the licensing of business enterprises during the year 2014 amounted to D14.8 million as compared to D15.0 million in 2013.
“This reflects a decrease in revenue amounting to D0.2 million. The decrease in revenue is attributable to the loss of revenue from closed businesses in 2014,” said the GT Board Director General.
He said this while presenting the GT Board Annual Report for 2014 to the members of the joint Public Accounts and Public Enterprises Committee (PAC/PEC) of the National Assembly yesterday on Thursday, 19 May 2016.
The GT Board director general also noted the decrease in arrivals of tourist in the year under review and which he attributes to the Ebola outbreak in some countries in the West Africa sub-region.
“The decrease in arrivals of 14, 260 (8.77% compare to 2013) was caused by the deadly Ebola crisis which hit the West African region in June 2014 and this has caused this variance from June to December 2014,” he said.
Mr. Hydara said this outbreak has negatively impacted on the economy.
The director general also reported that his institution was actively involved in better marketing strategies both nationally and internationally to ensure that tourist arrivals increase.
He said the tourism minister and ministry officials have been utilising the international media in the dissemination of relevant information as well as building strong partnerships with other marketing agencies in the marketing of the tourism industry in the Gambia.
Mr. Ousainou Senghore, GT Board Finance Director, presented the Audited Financial Report which was followed by the report of the external auditor.
The GT Board is said to be 95% compliant with the GPPA regulations.
The PAC/PEC, however, asked the GT Board to return on Monday 23 May 2016 by 12 noon for further scrutiny.
