Tourism development in the village of Albreda-Juffureh in Gambia

As part of its long-standing collaboration with the Gambian authorities, which culminated in the inclusion of Kunta Kinteh Island on the World Heritage List in 2003, CRAterre was invited twice in 2015 to support the implementation of an Action Plan aimed at relaunching this "tourism product" that is Kuntah Kinteh Island and the nearby sites associated with it (the two villages of Albreda and Juffureh). The aim of this government campaign is to reveal new cultural and natural values to invite visitors to stay longer, and contribute more significantly to the local economy. The two activities defined in this action plan that CRAterre is dealing with more directly are: the installation of historical signage and the design of a tourist information center, due to be built in 2016. The Gambia Tourism Board is spearheading the development of this flagship tourist destination with support from the National Council for Arts and Culture. Ten information panels designed by CRAterre were installed in August 2015 at several sites, including Kunta Kinteh Island and the village of Albreda. The center, designed on the basis of the results of a participatory workshop involving tour guides and local artisans, represents local architecture through its materials, constructive techniques and vernacular spatial arrangements. It will cover a 450 m² plot formerly occupied by a disused industrial shed that distorted the village's main square. The materials used for the construction will be largely taken from the village, with stone for the foundations and earth for the adobe walls and rendering. The structure will be covered with sheet metal salvaged from the demolished warehouse.