In the framework of the EU-funded programme HerMap Gambia, HERITΛGE was honoured to host the Select Committee on Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports of the National Assembly of the Gambia during a study tour to Greece that took place on 29th July – 4th August. The delegation was headed by the Honourable Seedy SK Njie, Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly of The Gambia and also included officials from the Gambia Tourist Board.

The purpose of the tour for the Honourable Members of the Parliament was to be guided through the Greek cultural and natural landscape and be presented with good practices and policies that helped the country develop its tourism and cultural industries, based on its heritage.  Greece is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, hosting over 30 million tourists each year. Its cultural and natural heritage has always been an important component of its cultural and tourist industries and has become even more so in the last three decades with the country diversifying away from the sea-and-sun model to address the challenges posed by climate change, overtourism, and calls for sustainable development.

“The visit to Greece was a significant milestone in our efforts to enhance The Gambia’s tourism and heritage sectors,” the Committee said in a statement. “We are committed to leveraging the insights and connections made during this study tour to forge a successful bilateral cooperation with Greece. This collaboration will pave the way for comprehensive development, ensuring that The Gambia’s heritage sites and natural assets are preserved and promoted for future generations.”

HERITΛGE Director Dr. Evangelos Kyriakidis said: “At HERITΛGE we are particularly proud to have been able to collaborate with the Select Committee on Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports of the National Assembly of the Gambia for this impactful tour that included training and benchmarking in the fields of heritage and heritage-based tourism. The study tour is one of the actions delivered by the EU-funded HerMaP Gambia program and has strengthened our cooperation with the Honourable Members with the aim of advancing the heritage and tourism sectors in The Gambia.”

During its week-long stay, the delegation realized a number of benchmarking visits to important heritage sites including the Museum of the Royal Tombs Aigai, the Polycentric Museum of Aigai, the White Tower, the Rotunda Monument, the Heptapyrgion fortress, and the Allied Military Cemetery and Memorial in Thessaloniki, the Metohi of the Agios Panteleimonas Monastery in Flogita with its newly created Centre of Byzantine Civilization and Exhibition on the Greek Revolution in Halkidiki, and the site of the Ancient City of Olynthos.

Cultural professional and Managing Director of SYMVOLI Conference & Cultural Management, Vicky Papadimitriou, introduced the delegation to the structure of the Greek cultural and tourism industries, giving an overview of the successes and challenges they have faced in the past century. The former Deputy Mayor of Thessaloniki, Spyros Pegkas, addressed the Delegation and presented how the City’s strategy to attract visitors and grow its economy was created around its multi-cultural past and rich cultural heritage in the early 2010’s. Dr. Prodromos Monastiridis, President of the Thessaloniki Convention Bureau presented the city’s strategy to attract visitors in a professional capacity. Sylvia Koumedaki, Co-founder and General Manager of Chef Stories, a marketing and consulting agency focusing on traditional gastronomy and tourism, gave the honourable members an overview of how food and agricultural heritage served as building blocks not just of community identity and preservation efforts, but also of efforts to attract visitors to the regions of Thessaloniki and Halkidiki and grow exports.

Archaeologist and museologist Yiannis Karliabas of the Thessaloniki Ephorate of Antiquities, talked to the delegation about history and oral history narratives and the opportunities and challenges faced by the team of heritage professionals working with Heptapyrgion, a monument with a long and often complicated history. Following the benchmarking visits the delegation had the opportunity to discuss with Archaeologists and Tour Guide Konstantinos Papastathis from the Ministry of Culture, Archaeologist and Tour Guide Tasos Papadopoulos, and Archaeologist, Museologist, and Tour Guide Georgios Adamidis.  The delegation also held a discussion and explored wider opportunities for cooperation with Perrotis College and American Farm School President, Dr. Jeff Lansdale following a tour of their extensive facilities.

Finally, the delegation had the opportunity to attend a Heritage Management workshop delivered by Dr. Anastasia Sakellariadi.