New Gambian tourism products show well at World Travel Market: One of Africa's smallest countries makes a big splash after presenting itself to movers and shakers of the global travel industry in London.

• Author: Rafique, Waqas

The Gambia launched a river-based cultural and nature tour called the Ninki Nanka Trail at the World Travel Market, a major international travel industry event, in November 2019.

First conceived in the 1980s to open upcountry tourism along the River Gambia, the trail came into being after comprehensive market research and product piloting. It offers an exciting new responsible-tourism product for The Gambia, and will be managed in a collaborative way that delivers clear benefits for both the local communities and tour operators involved.

At the launch in London, virtual reality tours instantly transported viewers to catch a glimpse of breathtaking scenes along the trail. Another highlight of the country's participation at the World Travel Market was a youth and trade roadmap of The Gambia. It was designed with the technical assistance of the International Trade Centre (ITC) as part of the Youth Empowerment Project (YEP) funded by the EU Emergency Trust Fund for Africa.

The roadmap is a policy instrument that helps...