Institute of Travel and Tourism of The Gambia (ITTOG)

What Institute of Travel and Tourism of The Gambia (ITTOG) does

The Institute of Travel and Tourism of The Gambia (ITTOG) is a non-profit, NAQAA-accredited TVET (Technical and Vocational Education and Training) institution founded in 2008 by Dr. Adama Bah, Sheikh Tejan Nyang and Helen Wilcockson, headquartered at the West African Insurance Institute Complex in Kanifing, The Gambia. Its core offering is a portfolio of certificate, diploma and advanced diploma programs in Tourism and Hospitality Management, Travel and Tourism, Air Cabin Crew and Airline Operations, Amadeus Booking Systems, Performing Arts, and short professional courses in areas such as eco-tourism, community-based tourism and event planning. Programs are accredited locally by NAQAA and internationally by Central Nottingham College (UK), with degree pathways to Leeds Beckett University via Commonwealth Scholarships supporting an MSc in Responsible Tourism.

The operating model combines tuition-bearing students with grant-funded cohorts for development projects. Major donor-funded programs include the EU-funded Event Planning program (50 students) via Youth Empowerment Project, the Catalan Agency-funded 'No Woman Left Behind' women's empowerment project, and the ACP-EU Culture Program-funded Performing Arts Diploma. Corporate sponsorship is modest in cash terms (e.g., $5,000 from National Hospitality Service USA) but supplements graduation ceremonies and student support. Distribution is campus-based in Kanifing with field visits and internships at airlines, hotels and tourism operators; marketing is concentrated on the ittog.gm website, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, industry partnerships, and international conferences including the 1st International Conference on Responsible Tourism Practices (January 2024). Student outcomes have cumulated to 1,120+ trainees since 2008, including sub-regional cohorts from Senegal, Ghana, Liberia and Nigeria and 23 MSc graduates at Leeds Beckett.

Commercial reach is regional rather than global: primary market is The Gambia, with additional student recruitment from West African neighbours, a UK partnership spine, and a recent South-South extension into Jamaica (WHI MOU, August 2025). Revenue is non-disclosed; sponsor and grant flows documented in inputs are modest and project-restricted. The organization is governed by an independent Board of Directors chaired by Dr. Adama Bah, with Sheikh Tejan Nyang as Principal, and has no parent company, no subsidiaries, and no public listing.

Name

Institute of Travel and Tourism of The Gambia (ITTOG)

Legal name

The Institute of Travel and Tourism of The Gambia (ITTOG)

Website

https://ittog.gm

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Institute of Travel and Tourism of The Gambia (ITTOG) is a non-profit TVET institution offering NAQAA-accredited certificate and diploma programs in tourism, hospitality, cabin crew, Amadeus booking, and performing arts, serving Gambian youth, sub-regional West African students, and vulnerable women, with grant-funded projects and UK university pathway partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Kanifing

HQ country

Gambia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Tuition Fees: ITTOG generates revenue through tuition fees for various certificate, diploma, and advanced diploma programs in travel, tourism, and hospitality. Some programs offer free tuition sponsored by funding agencies like ACP-EU Culture Program.
2. Project Funding & Grants: ITTOG receives funding from international development organizations and agencies for specific projects such as the 'No Woman Left Behind' project funded by Catalan Agency for Cooperation and Development, and Event Planning program funded by EU through Youth Empowerment Project.
3. Corporate Sponsorship: Sponsorships from companies like National Hospitality Service ($5,000), Trust Bank Ltd, TAF Africa Global, Royal Insurance, and others for graduation ceremonies and student support.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

ITTOG provides hands-on vocational training and diploma/certificate programs in travel, tourism, and hospitality management, with specializations in air cabin crew, Amadeus booking systems, tour operations, event planning, and responsible tourism. Programs are accredited by NAQAA and linked to UK university degree pathways. The institute also runs community-focused training projects including women's empowerment (No Woman Left Behind) and cultural tourism initiatives such as the Ninki Nanka Trail.

Product overview

ITTOG is an educational institution offering a comprehensive portfolio of vocational and diploma programs in travel, tourism, and hospitality. The core offerings include certificate and diploma levels in Tourism and Hospitality Management (Levels 1-2) and Travel and Tourism (Intermediate to Advanced Level 3), along with specialized programs in Cabin Crew and Airport Operations, Amadeus Booking System, and Event Planning. Additional offerings include short professional courses in customer service, marketing, eco-tourism, and community-based tourism management. The institution also delivers community-focused projects such as No Woman Left Behind (women's empowerment), Ninki Nanka Encounters (responsible tourism trail development), and Camp Africa/Mboka Festival (cultural exchange). Programs are accredited by NAQAA and linked with UK institutions including Central Nottingham College and Leeds Beckett University.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Ninki Nanka Trail: A responsible tourism initiative in The Gambia delivered in partnership with the Gambian Tourism Board and other stakeholders, aiming to disperse economic benefit to rural areas and diversify tourism product through community-based and heritage experiences.

Products and services

• Certificate in Tourism and Hospitality Management Level 1 A foundational NAQAA-designed certificate course comprising ten units leading to a level one qualification in hospitality; students are expected to work under supervision upon completion.
• Tourism and Hospitality Level 1 An entry-level Tourism and Hospitality course covering Hotel Front Office Operations, Bar and Restaurant, Food and Beverage, Housekeeping, basic tourism awareness and customer service, English Communication, and Numeracy.
• Level 2 Diploma in Tourism and Hospitality Management A NAQAA-designed Level 2 Diploma comprising 6 units for progression from the Certificate level; students are expected to work under minimum supervision after completion.
• Intermediate Diploma in Travel and Tourism (Level 2) A one-year NAQAA-validated Intermediate Diploma covering the global development of Travel and Tourism, marketing, customer service, business skills, running an event, and employment skills; designed for GCSE/WASSCE holders and enabling progression onto the Advanced Diploma.
• Advanced Diploma in Travel and Tourism (Level 3) An Advanced Diploma enabling graduates to gain employment in the Travel and Tourism industry or continue onto a Higher Professional Diploma. Includes national and international study visits and work placements, covering Development and Business of Travel and Tourism, Customer Service, Marketing, Tourism Destination, Sustainable Tourism Management, Tour Operations and Tour Guiding, and Event Planning.
• Amadeus Booking System Course A specialist course designed for those intending to work in the airline, travel agency, car rental, cruise line, and hotel industries; enables employment opportunities in travel agencies and professional career development using the Amadeus platform.
• Certificate in Air Cabin Crew and Airline Operations The first certificate of its kind in The Gambia, preparing students (minimum age 18, with physical and mental fitness requirements) for careers in Air Cabin Crew and Airline Operations.
• Cabin Crew and Airport Operation (Level 2) A Level 2 certificate preparing students for Air Cabin Crew Service and Airport Operation, covering Airline Operation, Air Cabin Crew working environment, People Skills and Sales, Health/Safety/Security/Hygiene, Airport Baggage Handling, Communication, and Airport Marshalling; supplemented with first-aid training from the Gambia Red Cross Society.
• Short Courses in Tourism and Hospitality A portfolio of short professional courses covering Introduction to Customer Service, Marketing for Travel and Tourism, Tour Operations and Tour Guiding, Eco-Tourism Management, Community Based Tourism Management, Entrepreneurship, and Holiday Representatives.
• Short Courses 2022/2023 (Amadeus/Galileo, TOEFL, F&B Controls, City and Guilds PTL, Pre/Post Hotel Opening) Additional short courses for the 2022/2023 intake including Amadeus/Galileo Travel Agency Booking System, TOEFL Coaching Course, Food and Beverage Controls, City and Guilds PTL Opening Training, and Pre/Post Hotel Opening Training.
• Performing Arts Diploma (Dance, Music, Theatre) An intensive diploma course in performing arts (Dance, Music and Theatre), commencing July 2023, sponsored by the ACP-EU Culture Program through their Support to Cultural and Creative Sectors in West Africa; curriculum validated by NAQAA with curriculum support from Ecole National des Arts in Senegal.
• Event Planning and Management Program A three-month Event Planning and Management program with 50 students inducted; fully supported by Youth Empowerment Project (YEP) Gambia and funded by the EU to enhance youth skills and discourage irregular migration.
• Hajj Tour Guiding Training (for Gambia International Airlines) Customized professional tour-guide training conducted for Gambia International Airlines tour guides, representing the first professional tour guide training delivered in The Gambia, focused on Hajj tour operations.
• No Woman Left Behind Women's Empowerment Program A training program aimed at empowering Gambian women in vulnerable situations as entrepreneurs by providing business skills training, IT training, personalized mentoring, and support for launching small self-managed businesses operating in responsible tourism markets through gastronomic products; sponsored by the Catalan Agency for Cooperation and Development.
• Ninki Nanka Encounters Foundation / Ninki Nanka Trail A charitable foundation project developing the Ninki Nanka Trail, an innovative responsible tourism initiative that aims to disperse economic benefit to rural areas and diversify Gambia's tourism product through community-based and heritage experiences along the River Gambia; co-founded with the Gambia Tourism Board and NCAC.
• Camp Africa and Mboka Festival for Arts, Culture and Sports A project dedicated to fostering sustainable development activities and responsible tourism by bringing local, regional, and international youth together annually for sporting, arts and cultural, educational, and community-focused activities.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1,120 students trained since 2008
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core, major and minor.

• Western Hospitality Institute (WHI) JamaicaflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 August 2025Landmark MOU signed August 5, 2025 for enhancing hospitality and tourism education. Partnership stems from CARICOM Heads of Government Meeting and Africa-Caribbean Business and Cultural Forum. Includes joint programs, faculty and student exchanges, curriculum development, and research. Represents South-South cooperation between Africa and Caribbean.
• HerMaP Gambia ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 January 2024Partnership for 1st International Conference on Responsible Tourism Practices held January 24-25, 2024 at Sindola Safari Lodge. Theme focused on responsible cultural heritage management and sustainable community development.
• Leeds Beckett University (UK)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2010Partnership established in 2010 for degree pathways and responsible tourism education. Has facilitated 23 Commonwealth Scholarships for West Africans to earn MSc in Responsible Tourism. Provides academic oversight and international credential validation.
• People and Places (UK)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2010Local partner in Gambia for volunteering. Provides volunteers for curriculum development, teaching, and business mentoring. Has supported ITTOG since their programs began with skills transfer and financial support.
• Central Nottingham College (formerly South Nottingham College)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2008Founding partner that developed scholarship programme allowing Gambian students to study Travel and Tourism at the college. Provided financial, technical and moral support for 8 years. Currently accredits all courses run by ITTOG.
• Gambia Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology (MoHERST)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment ministry supporting ITTOG's initiatives. Ambassador Jainaba Jagne, Permanent Secretary, attended MOU signing with WHI and endorsed the partnership as aligned with MoHERST's TVET transformative agenda.
• Ecole National des Arts (Senegal)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMOU signed for performing arts curriculum support. Senegalese school of arts will help ITTOG develop Level 3 Diploma in performing arts curriculum.
• Gambia Tourism BoardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment tourism body providing industry oversight and collaboration on responsible tourism initiatives. Co-founded Ninki Nanka Trail and supports various ITTOG programs.
• National Centre for Arts and Culture (NCAC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment body for arts and culture that supports ITTOG's cultural tourism programs. Collaborated on Ninki Nanka Trail and Kankurang Festival activities.
• Ninki Nanka Encounter's FoundationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharitable foundation founded 2020 by Lucy McCombes and Dr. Adama Bah to develop the Ninki Nanka Trail - a responsible tourism initiative linking heritage sites and community-based tourism along the River Gambia.
• Africa Tourism Leadership Forum (ATLF)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerPan-African dialogue platform. Sheikh Tejan Nyang participated in forum with Botswana President and Tourism Minister to discuss strengthening intra-African tourism relations.
• Gambia Red Cross SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides first aid training for ITTOG students in Cabin Crew and Airport Operation as well as Intermediate Diploma programs.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne: Switzerland-based global leader in hospitality management education offering undergraduate and graduate degrees. Operates at significantly larger scale and broader geographic reach than ITTOG but serves overlapping career outcomes for tourism and hospitality students, anchoring the upper end of the market ITTOG feeds into via Commonwealth Scholarship pathways.
• Les Roches International School of Hotel Management: Swiss-based global hospitality school with campuses across multiple countries offering undergraduate and postgraduate hospitality degrees. Much larger and more international than ITTOG; relevant as a benchmark for curriculum quality, accreditation standards, and the global price ceiling for premium tourism education.

Direct peers

• Akwaaba Academy: Ghana-based hospitality, travel, and tourism vocational training academy offering certificates and diplomas with hands-on curriculum. Comparable to ITTOG in West African footprint, TVET positioning, and target student segments (youth and school leavers pursuing tourism careers).
• Kenya Utalii College: Kenya's premier tourism and hospitality training college, offering certificate and diploma programs in travel, tourism, and hotel operations. Closest functional analogue to ITTOG in Africa with similar TVET focus, employer-aligned curriculum, and sub-regional student recruitment.
• Western Hospitality Institute (WHI): Jamaica-based hospitality and tourism education institution of comparable scale and mission. ITTOG signed a flagship MOU with WHI in August 2025 for joint programs, faculty exchanges, and curriculum development, making it the most directly comparable peer in scope, geography focus, and target student segments.

Regional players

• National Institute of Tourism and Hospitality (Rwanda): Rwanda's government-affiliated tourism and hospitality training institute offering certificate and diploma programs. Comparable to ITTOG in East African context, with similar TVET mandate, employer-aligned curriculum, and government accreditation, though serving a different national market.
• Blue Mountains Hotel and Tourism Management School: South Africa-based tourism and hospitality vocational school offering certificates and diplomas. Operates in a different geography than ITTOG but offers comparable TVET-style programs and serves a similar entry-level workforce development function across Southern Africa.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ittoggambia
• YouTubeyoutube.com/ittoggambia
• Facebookfacebook.com/Gambiaittog
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ittoggambia

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Institute of Travel and Tourism of The Gambia (ITTOG)