The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has set an ambitious goal of attracting 10 million intra-community tourists by 2029 as part of its Regional Tourism Policy (ECOTOUR 2021–2030). In pursuit of this objective, the Commission organized a high-level regional workshop on responsible tourism and free movement of people in Banjul, The Gambia.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Anthony Elumelu, ECOWAS Private Sector Director, representing ECOWAS Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture, Ms. Massandjé Touré-Litse, emphasized the need for harmonized policies, inclusive actions, and increased cross-border cooperation to enhance regional tourism and economic growth.
Ms. Ndeye Tabara Touray, Director of Regional Integration and Head of the ECOWAS National Office in The Gambia, praised the collaborative approach of the workshop and stressed the importance of participatory strategies for people-centered regional integration.
The workshop resulted in key recommendations, including:
Decentralizing training sessions to include rural and border communities, crucial for regional mobility.
Enhancing cooperation with immigration and border management authorities.
Conducting cross-border simulations to assess the effectiveness of the ECOWAS Free Movement Protocol.
Regional Experts highlighted Gambia’s strategic role as a top tourist destination in the ECOWAS region, with tourism generating $85 million annually, contributing 20% of GDP, and providing over 82,000 direct and indirect jobs.