The President of The Gambia, His Excellency Adama Barrow has recently laid a foundation stone for Radisson Blu Hotel as part of infrastructure development projects for the hosting of the forthcoming OIC Heads of State and Government Summit due in The Gambia.
The just laid foundation stone for the US$100 million five-star hotel will match up with the Radisson Blu Hotel brand in the sub-region, it will incorporate its facilities, architecture, services, and management.
Once this new five-star Radisson Blu Hotel is completed, it will contribute to diversifying The Gambia’s tourism portfolio further and it will address the demand for internationally branded luxury hotels across Africa, as noted by the Gambia President.
Laying the foundation stone of the hotel at one of the tourism development areas (TDA), Bijilo, President Adama Barrow told the stakeholders that “it will house 400 high-end garden and sea-view guest rooms, as well as VIP suites. And it will have royal villas, presidential apartments, meeting rooms, and other event venues.”
In line with the Gambia government’s commitment to environmental preservation, President Barrow noted that the hotel design is environmentally friendly, and features several green zones to protect and maintain the flora and fauna within the area.
However, “you will be pleased to know that the new hotel will operate under the management of the world-renowned Radisson Blu brand, as part of an international chain of hotels. Radisson Blu Hotel Banjul on the list of Gambian hotels will uplift Destination Gambia to a new level, to rank among the favorite leisure destinations in the world,” President Barrow assured the stakeholders.
The Gambia president expressed delight over the partnership saying “We are proud that Radisson Blu Banjul Hotel is a project under IMMOGAM. This is a company jointly owned by the People of The Gambia, through The Gambia Government, and the investing company, Immoland Sarl.”
More so, he divulged, the joint operation of Radisson Blu Banjul, the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Centre, and the ultra-modern VVIP lounge, nearing completion at the Banjul International Airport, is expected to uniquely position The Gambia as a leading destination for International Meetings, Incentive Travel, Conferences, and Exhibitions. So, besides its macro-economic benefits, the project will create jobs for both skilled and unskilled persons during and after construction, therefore, “I encourage the youths to take advantage of these opportunities to acquire skills and generate income to become productive and self-reliant citizens.”
President Barrow disclosed that tourism accounts for about 20% of the country’s GDP, making it a critical contributor to the economy.
