From the 11th to 15th November 17 heritage professionals joined HERITAGE’s Community Tourism Planning & Development workshop that was organized in the framework of HerMaP Gambia, an initiative co-funded by the European Union that aims to enrich the understanding and appreciation of Gambian cultural heritage while enhancing the capacity of key stakeholders in the cultural and tourism sectors.

Tim Healing led the online course which was aimed at helping heritage professionals build the knowledge and skills necessary to develop sustainable community tourism projects. Through these projects, key stakeholders from the Gambia Tourist Board, Institute for Travel and Tourism of The Gambia, Juffureh Heritage Village Museum, Senegambia Stone Circle Tour Guide Association, JJB Kankurang Festival Committee as well as Independent participants, were encouraged to also address issues such as how to promote cultural preservation, economic empowerment, and environmental sustainability.

Participants worked on case studies from projects including Lamu in Kenya, Raqchi in Peru, Tourism Development in the Mursi Community of Ethiopia, The Green Valley Community Tourism Project, Managing Tourist Impact on the Cultural Events of the Maasai Mara Community, The Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, and the Community-Based Tourism Initiative in Vietnam.

By focusing on community resource mobilisation, partnership building, financial literacy, and effective branding, the workshop aimed to equip participants with the knowledge and skills to create authentic tourism experiences that support local development while increasing awareness of cultural heritage management . Participation with the workshop was lively with attendees demonstrating significant interest in the subject.  Despite being online, the workshop was also highly interactive, combining discussions, presentations, and group exercises which fostered an engaging learning environment. The collaborative activities encouraged the sharing of ideas and best practices, ensuring the content resonated with participants and was applicable to their local contexts.

“The workshop benefited greatly from the participants’ hands-on experience in community tourism, which added depth to the discussions and activities. Their practical knowledge allowed for a more insightful and relevant exchange of ideas, making the sessions both engaging and meaningful. I’m eager to see how they apply the strategies and concepts learned to further develop tourism projects,” said Mina Morou – HerMaP Gambia Project Manager.

*Tim Healing is our interim director of African Grants and capacity development officer, helping small heritage organizations in Africa develop an application and ensure they manage their grant efficiently. Tim has over thirty years’ experience working as a project manager and has a professional background in project management, community and NGO development.