📖 About Banjul

Banjul is the capital of The Gambia, nestled on St. Mary's Island where the Gambia River meets the Atlantic Ocean. According to UNWTO, Gambia was one of the world's fastest-growing travel destinations in early 2025, recording an extraordinary 46% growth in visitors in the first quarter. The "Smiling Coast of Africa" is emerging as a hidden gem combining affordability, beaches, and authentic West African culture.

The 2025/26 tourism season launched in November with Gambia Experience's inaugural flight bringing 189 UK tourists to Banjul International Airport. TUI flights from the Netherlands and UK quickly followed. The new TUI Blue Tamala Hotel opened on November 11, 2025, while a Ramada resort (Wyndham Group) was announced as the first globally branded hotel in The Gambia. ValueJet launched twice-weekly Lagos-Banjul direct flights from May 2025.

The Banjul Cultural Festival 2025, which began December 25 at the iconic Arch 22, drew both Gambians and international visitors. Vice President Mohammed BS Jallow attended the opening ceremony of this festival running through January 1, 2026. With 790,000 international visitors in 2023 projected to exceed one million by 2028, Banjul is positioning itself as West Africa's premier cultural and beach destination.

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💼 Economy & Culture

Tourism has become The Gambia's primary economic driver, directly benefiting Banjul's service sector. The 46% growth in early 2025 reflects successful marketing as a budget-friendly African destination. Hotels, restaurants, tour operators, and craft sellers depend on seasonal European visitors. Fishing remains important, with Banjul's harbor receiving daily catches. The government's tourism push includes new hotels and expanded air connections.

Gambian culture in Banjul reflects diverse ethnic traditions including Mandinka, Wolof, Fula, and Jola peoples. English serves as the official language, a legacy of British colonization, but local languages predominate in daily life. Islam is the dominant religion, with mosques dotting the cityscape. Traditional music featuring kora and djembe drums enlivens festivals. The Banjul Cultural Festival showcases this diversity while attracting tourists to experience authentic West African hospitality.

📜 History

Banjul was founded as Bathurst by the British in 1816 on St. Mary's Island, purchased from a local chief to combat the slave trade. The location at the Gambia River mouth made it strategically important. The city served as capital of British Gambia, the smallest and most unusual of Britain's African colonies—a narrow strip of land along the river surrounded by French Senegal.

The Gambia gained independence in 1965 and renamed its capital Banjul in 1973. Dawda Jawara governed until the 1994 coup that brought Yahya Jammeh to power for 22 years. Adama Barrow's 2017 election victory restored democracy, though Jammeh refused to leave initially. The Arch 22 commemorates the 1994 revolution. Today Banjul balances its colonial architectural heritage with modern tourism development and West African cultural revival.