FESTIVALS CAN play an important role in Cultural awareness, educating, preserving, sharing and fostering the cultures of a country.

Oko Drammeh

FESTIVAL CULTURE AND ECONOMICS
I have observed the issues facing Gambian cultural officers and Gambian musicians and arists, festival producers, especially about the culture and economic developement, are the same ones that this governments and the previous government have faced and The Gambia contuinued to face.
I believe that festivals can play an important role in preserving, sharing, and fostering the cultures of the country, and that this sharing of cultures can be a major element in the economic and cultural developement of the Gambia.


The Professional Education programme
This programme brings to gether worldwide resources in festival professionalism  developement.The programme will include three major elements all held in conjunction with a major international festival.

1). Festival management conference:  to provide direct training and advance festival production education to Gambian festival and theatre producers. 

2).Festival evaluation and training programme:  to work with local festivals in preparation for developemrnt of an international tourism marketing programme

 3). The International Music & Cultural Festival : intergrated into a local festival to enchance awareness of other worldwide cultures and traditions, as a demonstration projects for future worldwide partnership and as an introduction to producting events with international participation  on a new level of community particapation.

The economic impact of Festivals and events
Festivals and events are a very powerful segments of the fast growing worldwide travel industry. Although there are no total figures of the economic impact of festivals, the international Festival & Event association (IFAE) has begun a programme to measure the economic impact of festival and have developed a model that can be used throuhout the world. As to this date studies using this new model have only been conducted in north America where it is estimated that there are more than 50.000 festivals. These events are now part of what is called The "festival & travel industry"  Many countries are now conducting impact studies of their festivals and their capacity as economic developement tools is just now being examined and understood.


History Teaching 
Heritage tourism is one of the fastest growing economic resources in tourism throughout the world. Heritage tourism is based on the masiac of places, art, music, celebrations and experiences that potray a nation and it's people. In todays world of educated traveller, cultural tourism refer to the desire of people to learn about and understand the cultures, history and traditions of the destinations that they are visiting.

Garanteed Income growth
According to a study by the Travel industry of America, 46% of the 199.8 million US adults travelers. (92%) including a cultural, arts, heritage, historic activity in their travels.Of the 92.4 milloin travellers that included a cultural activity while on trip some will add extra to their trip because of a cultural activity or festival.Cultural tourist spend more per day, stay longer, and particapate in more activities than REGULAR tourist. They have higher income are better EDUCATED and older. The historic/cultural traveller is a market in which travel industry have to pay close attention.

Developing the festival industry as Economic developement tool
Developing effective programmes will require study and education of festival producers and a broader public relations and marketing efforts. This effort must be coordinated with other reginal cultural attractions. In searching for information on African Festivals on the internet there is not much information aviable on Gambian Festivals. A google web page search finds more than 4000 listings of specific festivals all over the world while the same search for The Gambia only yeild 3 results. most of which are articles on traditional festivals overall, but without specific site and dates for travellers to attend.

 Worldwide Cultural Attractions
Now that festivals are recognised in certain guidebooks and travel resources as a very high quality travel experience. We want to make the festival and the event attractive worldwide as a cultural tourism attraction.. This will begin to generate economic impact through the income and welfare of the artists, booking of hotels. local transport, restaurant sale, ticket purchase, and other typical tourism expenditure.

Cultural Awareness programmes
Cultural exchange programmes are one of the most important ways to develope a cultural aweareness society. The artistic energy and the spirit that developes between artists and the general public, musicians, poets, writers, from different cultures is a source of educating and enlightment. This would enchance understanding of the arts of the world but also serve as a marketing tool for the local region. Providing the opportunity to EDUCATE and TEACH and TRAIN  festival producers, in producing international events and artists and in preparing to accomodate international visitors.

Implimentation & Cost
The implimentation of this programme need partnership in the arts with international funding and government funding so that the proper research and planning can be managed.The cost of planning, conference speakers, lecturers, music & art, and other expenses would be determined in consultation with sponsor and it would be the responsibility of the sponsor.

 Overview
a. to generate significant international economic impact through the developement of the festival industry in The Gambia

b. to ncrease the capacity of Gambian festivals to to particate in worldwide festival's markets

c. to expand and enchance the cultural awareness and cultural knowledge of the Gambian community.

d. to evelpoe and expand Gambian international cultural programmes at festivals

e. to evelope Tourism and marketing programmes using festivals as a major city attraction.

f. And putting The Gambian artists in the picture/ Going International.


Maximum impact will be acheived.

Oko drammeh
www.okodrammeh.com




 		
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