Popularly known as "The Smiling Coast Of Africa", The Gambia had reasons to widen her smile as Tour Operators landed her shores on a Familiarisation Tour in partnership with Gambia Tourism Authority and Gambia Hotel Association.

Representing the Gambia Tourism Authority, Mr. Mamou warmly received the Banjul Bantaba Team, then went on to share a brief history of their small (about 1.9million people), but mighty country. He equally disclosed that THE GAMBIA is a preferred name for her, as opposed to just GAMBIA to prevent the confusion with ZAMBIA.

There was the enlightening hotel tour to Senegambia Beach Hotel, Djembe and Balafon Resorts, Coco Ocean Resort, Ngala Lodge (voted 4th most romantic hotel in Africa), Swiss Boutique Hotel, Lemon Creek Hotel, Sindola Safari Lodge, where representatives of each hotel waited in anticipation to show us round their beautiful properties.

Very nice indeed! If it's a meeting, conference, event, honeymoon, retreat, vacation etc., believe me when I say these hotels have got you covered.

The meals were good too as enjoyed at The Three Chicks Restaurant, Coco Ocean, Lemon Creek, Poco Loco Lounge, Kombo Beach Hotel and of course, Sindola Safari Lodge where the former Minister Of Tourism, Mrs. Fatou Mas Jobe Njie gave us an overwhelmingly warm welcome laden with music, magic, fresh coconut water, dance and lunch.

An important part of Banjul Bantaba was the B2B session between tourism stakeholders of both Nigeria and The Gambia aimed at resuscitating the tourism industry in The Gambia.

When you know better, you do better! We now know more, much more will happen for (and in) The Gambia. The Banjul Bantaba Familiarisation Tour was everything it promised to be and more! The amazing people on the trip gave it more meaning. Mr. Ikechi, Mr. Nkereuwem, Onyi, Dein, Chi, Hajia, Madam Joy and Mamou, thank you for a memorable outing.

It was my first time in The Gambia, as well as my first time at a crocodile pool. I even touched one and made it move. I shall be back, but not to touch a croc! Hahaha!

Well done to the Organiser of Banjul Bantaba, Mr. Ikechi Uko and his awesome Team. Mr. Uko is equally the Organiser of the prestigious Akwaaba African Travel Market, Accra Weizo, Abuja Jabamah and the Publisher of atqnews.com.

Dalasis: Gambian Currency

EbeleEze-Enemchukwu is the immediate past Mrs Tourism United Nations, she wrote in from Lagos, Nigeria. Follow her on Facebook.

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