The Gambia Tourism Authority (GTA) in collaboration with the National Centre for Arts and Culture (NCAC) recently embarked on a massive rehabilitation exercise on  the historical sites in The Gambia, ahead of the African Tourism Association (ATA) study tour in the country.

The exercise was carried out in Fort Bullen, Fort James, Juffureh (home village of Kunta Kinteh) Janjangbureh etc. Speaking to the Daily Observer, Abbie Sarr, a member of the association said the main reason for the exercise was to rehabilitate the historical sites in The Gambia and also to prepare for the upcoming ATA study tour.

Sarr explained that it is very important that the historical sites are rehabilitated, because most of them are losing value. He added that tourists will no longer be interested in the sites if they lose their value. She cited James Island as an example, saying that it is very important it is rehabilitated else water will take over the whole Island, as it has submerged most parts of it already.

She then expressed hope that the rehabilitation project would be successfully carried out. For her part, Fatou Beyai-Raji of GTA said that they should have taken this initiative long before, because most of the historical sites have started to lose their value. She mentioned Juffureh as an example, pointing out that it was so rich in culture, but has now lost some of its value. He also gave as example, the well constructed by Sheikh Omar Futiyou Tall, which has been taken away by the water.