TİKA Supported Vocational Tourism Education in The Gambia

A training on “Current Approaches in Tourism Education” was provided in Banjul in cooperation with Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA), Turkish Ministry of National Education, Ministry of Tourism and Culture of The Gambia and The Gambia Tourism and Hospitality Institute.

The training on "Current Approaches in Tourism Education" is the introductory module of the Tourism Education Program (TUREP) conducted by TİKA. It was held in Banjul with the participation of 33 experts who have played a role in the tourism education policy-making processes.

In the 5-day training held in The Gambia after Tunisia and Uzbekistan, the participants had the opportunity to acquire knowledge on the “Examples of Tourism Education in Some European Countries and Turkey”, “General Structure of Tourism Vocational High Schools in Turkey”, “Alternative Tourism Types”, “Job Shadowing Model Applied in Turkey” and “Internship in Turkey”.

Speaking at the closing and certificate ceremony of the program, The Gambia Tourism and Culture Minister Hamat BAH, the Republic of Turkey’s Ambassador to Banjul Tolga Bermek, TİKA’s Banjul Coordinator Mehmet Akif Eyigün and Antalya Falez Vocational and Technical Anatolian High School Principal Ersümer Eren wished that this cooperation would continue in the future.

In his speech, The Gambian Tourism and Culture Minister Hamat Bah stated that Turkey is the leading country in the field of tourism, and they should benefit from Turkey's experience.

The Republic of Turkey’s Ambassador to Banjul Tolga Bermek stated that they are pleased to see that people were interested in the training and that it is very important for them to cooperate with The Gambia in every field.

The Gambia Tourism and Hospitality Institute (GTHI), which is expected to host the 2022 Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Summit, is the dominant institution in vocational tourism education in The Gambia and about 20 staff members from the institute are expected to take active role in the accommodation and shuttle services to be offered in the Summit.