Gambia: Handicrafts Vendor Anticipates Higher Vacationer Season

Handicraft distributors inside the Higher Banjul Space are anticipating a greater season forward of the 2023 vacationers’ season.

Majority of handicraft artisans are small scale operators, who principally derive their earnings from The Gambia’s vacationer business.

To this finish, they referred to as on the federal government of the Gambia via the Ministry of Tourism and Tradition to create higher alternatives for these engaged within the area.

The distributors, who have been talking in a latest unique with The Level newspaper, acknowledged that the sector is one space principally dominated by youth, who use their distinctive and inventive abilities pushed by a way of tradition and trend.

A few of the gadgets they deal in embrace, bead and jewelry, hats, woven baskets, key holders, conventional devices for decorations, equipment, amongst others.

Haddy Joof, a vendor on the Senegambia Craft market, has been within the enterprise for over 5 years, crafting and designing for trend and ornament.

She, nonetheless, expressed some challenges confronting her enterprise through the tourism offseason.

“The craft enterprise is her solely supply of earnings so as to put meals on the desk for her household. Nonetheless, the enterprise normally takes a toll when the county’s tourism offseason calendar begins.

The distinctiveness of a enterprise, she added, helps it to blossom.

Nonetheless, that is what serves as a problem for Haddy as she believes her enterprise is dropping its distinctive values due to many individuals venturing into handicraft making.

Nameless sources have mentioned that Gambia has a fledgling handicrafts business that features artisans concerned within the manufacturing of wooden carving, batiks, tie-dye materials, dolls, costume and shirts, leather-based items and material/rug weaving.

“With a number of exceptions, the standard of this stuff is usually poor and there may be have to develop the market”.

The supply added that the Ministry of Commerce, Trade, and Employment (MoTIE) is the federal government establishment that oversees the handicrafts sector. MoTIE displays the business via its Industrial Improvement Unit.

In the meantime, ladies comprise a good portion of handicraft artisans; they produce tie-dyed cloth that’s used to make clothes and residential equipment.

Few function their very own stalls at vacationers’ markets as majority produce and promote on to different distributors. Some handicraft artisans have obtained help previously from the Authorities of The Gambia (GOTG) and worldwide donors/NGOs.