Ministers from the regional bloc of ECOWAS member states are currently holding the first meeting of Tourism Ministers of the ECOWAS in the Gambian Capital Banjul.

The two-day synergy will avail delegates the opportunity to exchange views and share practical experiences with a view to develop and advance tourism within the region and also to promote the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) brand globally.

On behalf of Gambian president Yahya Jammeh Fatou Lamin Faye, the minister for Basic Secondary Education said tourism is a major economic pillar of the Gambian economy. The sector has assumed great significance in the socio-economic development of the Gambia's economy due to the tourism policy that have been formulated over the years.

"Tourism sector within the region face encountering difficulties due to the political turmoil in the region," said the Gambia's tourism minister Fatou Mass Jobe Njie.

The West African sub-region has an experience of political turbulence in many places which have a negative impact not only in tourism promotional development but in the socio-economic. Without peace and tranquility the development of sub-regional tourism will only remain a dream for the countries within the region, the minister said.

"No matter how unique our products can be, no matter how qualitative our service are and no matter how aggressive our marketing activities are, if there is no peace and tranquility in the region then the region will stand to loose a lot in terms of tourism and most of it if not all our efforts will only come to not" Madam Jobe Njie noted.