Can you afford paradise? Yes, says travel company in popular tropical getaway..

Tourists are increasingly turning away from holidays in far-flung destinations such as Dubai, Egypt and the Caribbean, choosing instead to holiday closer to home. Spending on leisure activities has gone down, according to the 2011 Family Spending Report published in November. However, there's no need to go camping just yet, says a travel agency in a truly exotic location. Holidaymakers can enjoy affordable year round sunshine, palm trees, stunning scenery and beautiful beaches, just five hours flight away in the ex-British colony of The Gambia, situated on the West coast of Africa.

Taf Gambia Tours, a travel company in The Gambia, has exclusive access to some of the countries best holiday deals and has seen an increasing demand for accommodation from holidaymakers in the UK and Europe. As The Gambia is just five hours flight away, tourists looking for an affordable tropical getaway will save money on their flights, plus they can choose from a wealth of affordable holiday homes close to its beautiful beaches such Brufut Gardens at Brufut Heights beach.

Mustapha Njie, CEO of Taf Holdings Ltd, which owns Taf Gambia Tours, is not at all surprised about the increase in tourists to The Gambia: "Our country is known as 'The Smiling Coast', and that's exactly what visitors do when they come here," Mr Njie explains. "The Gambia has a thriving economy and a constantly improving infrastructure. Tourists always receive a warm welcome from Gambians who are considered the friendliest people on earth, and often return again and again. Many even buy their own holiday homes in developments such as Brufut Gardens."

The Gambia offers a wide choice of accommodation, including affordable apartments of all sizes, luxurious villas with pools, holiday homes close to the beach, and hotels. Find out more by visiting www.tafgambiatours.com.

Emerging property markets offer best opportunity for return on investment, says leading businessman

Can property still offer a good return on investment? Of course, says Mr Mustapha Njie, CEO of Taf Holdings Ltd and one of The Gambia's leading entrepreneurs. While property markets in Europe and the USA are stagnating, new, emerging markets such as The Gambia are catching the eye of shrewd property investors.

Mustapha Njie explains: "The Gambia ticks all the boxes for an exciting emerging property market. We have a stable government that is constantly investing in infrastructure such as roads, electricity and water, and is keen to encourage overseas investment. We have a low crime rate, a growing economy and a thriving tourist industry. As a result, property prices have been steadily increasing for the past few years and The Gambia has become an investment haven."

One of the most important things to consider when buying property overseas is the property laws and regulations that will be applied. Unlike many other countries, it is relatively straightforward to buy and sell property in The Gambia. Mustapha Njie continues: "The property conveyancing laws in The Gambia are based on the British legal system. And, of course, our official language is English, and so property investors from the UK will find it much easier to communicate with Gambian solicitors than, for example, if they were buying property in Spain."

One of the most successful recent property developments in The Gambia is Brufut Gardens, with over five hundred properties. It occupies a choice position just ten minutes from the airport, overlooking the beautiful Brufut Heights beach. Brufut Gardens is so popular that the developer is constructing an exclusive shopping mall and leisure complex, due to be opened in 2012. Find out more at www.tafgambianproperty.com.

The Gambian property market: get a piece of it while you can

The world's emerging property markets are fast becoming big news, and The Gambia is one of the most exciting property markets you could find. Over the past few years, it has enjoyed significant growth, due largely to The Gambia's stable government and economy as well as its vast number of attractions for visitors and ex-pats. 2012 is certain to bring continued success for property developments such as Brufut Gardens, a secure, private development with over five hundred homes.

About Brufut Gardens

Since the first phase of Brufut Gardens was completed in 2004 by Taf Holdings Ltd, its luxury properties have been snapped up by families, entrepreneurs, retirees and holidaymakers. It is now a thriving community covering 3,700,000 square metres, set alongside beautiful Brufut Heights beach. The development's low rise, attractive buildings have been carefully designed in a traditional style, with plenty of outdoor gardens, terraces and verandas, so that its residents can fully enjoy the sub-tropical Gambian climate.

We asked Mr Mustapha Njie, CEO of Taf Holdings Ltd, why 2012 is such an exciting year for Brufut Gardens.

"When we developed Brufut Gardens we gave residents modern, luxury accommodation with superb facilities, including tarmac roads, a regular electricity and water supply, street lighting and a weekly garbage collection. In 2012 residents will be able to enjoy a brand new, exclusive shopping mall. Its first phase is due to open in February, and we plan to complete it by the end of the year."

The Brufut Gardens Shopping Mall

This exclusive shopping mall has been designed to give residents more than just a shopping experience. Holding thirty four units and a terraced food court, this thirty million dollar complex will accommodate a variety of shops selling fashion, gifts, toys, electronics and household goods, together with several restaurants. As well as retail shops and an art gallery, the complex will hold a number of units that will be invaluable to the community. These include a bank, Forex bureau, pharmacy, estate agency, travel agency, hairdressers and dry cleaners.

Find out more about Gambian property

To find out more about Gambia, the property market, and Brufut Gardens, visit www.tafgambianproperty.com.

Overseas property hotspots focus on an undiscovered paradise

The property market in the UK is stagnant. In Spain, and other Mediterranean countries, it's falling apart. Every day, we hear stories of people's investments being destroyed due to the financial crisis in Europe.

Investors are turning away from traditional overseas investments and looking further afield. New countries are emerging as property hotspots for the future. None more so than The Gambia, an undiscovered paradise on the West coast of Africa, less than six hours flight from the UK.

Why The Gambia?

With a stable government, low crime rates, financial stability and a growing economy, The Gambia is starting to become a sought after tourist destination. There has been significant investment in its infrastructure, such as roads, schools and healthcare. The official language is English. The Gambia has everything tourists look for in a tropical getaway; beautiful beaches, palm trees, winter temperatures above 30 degrees and stunning scenery. New hotels, apartments and villas are in demand both by ex-pats and tourists, yet you can still snap up property at surprisingly low prices. The Gambia has a thriving ex-pat community, many of whom live there for some of the year and make a substantial profit renting out their property to tourists.

Is Gambian property a sound investment?

The President and the government have been in power for over ten years, and are committed to encouraging inward investment. As such, property conveyancing and laws are based on the British legal system and subject to the strict terms which govern it. Many Gambian lawyers have qualified and practised in the UK, and all matters are dealt with in English.

Mr Mustapha Njie, CEO of Taf Gambian Property (www.tafgambianproperty.com) and one of the country's leading entrepreneurs, says, "The Gambia has become a big draw for investors from the UK and Europe. It's an ideal time for investors to snap up property, as the currently low prices are set to climb and climb. Property laws in The Gambia are very similar to the UK, so, as long as you get the right advice, buying here is very straightforward."

Property prices are rising steadily in The Gambia and market confidence is high. If there is ever a right time to invest in property, it's right now.

Gambia's property boom: how Mustapha Njie is helping to 'house the nation'

Making the Gambia a safe haven for investment

Over the last ten years, the Gambian government has been committed to making The Gambia a safe haven for investment by encouraging private sector growth. The country has a stable economy, with property laws based on the UK legal system and significant investment in infrastructure such as roads, schools and hospitals. As a result of the government's policies, and the hard work of successful businesses such as Taf Gambian Property (www.tafgambianproperty.com), Gambia's property market has become a major success story.

Operation House the Nation: how it began

In 2000,Taf Gambian Property ventured into large-scale housing development. Taf Gambian Property is part of Taf Holding Company Ltd, owned by Mr Mustapha Njie, one of The Gambia's most respected businessmen. Code-named 'Operation House the Nation', the project had two goals. Firstly, to give the Gambian people an opportunity to own well-built, good quality homes, and secondly, to provide a good selection of property for outside investors.

Two sites were allocated to Taf Gambian Property for the development of low, middle and high-income houses: Yarambamba Housing Estate in Yundum, and Brufut Gardens in Brufut.

Yarambamba Housing Estate

This site comprises of two hundred and ten highly affordable two and three bedroom houses, giving local Gambians an unprecedented opportunity to own or lease their own homes. The site has excellent amenities with well-maintained roads, a mosque and a bustling market. The total project cost was $4.5 million and the company received $1.00 million as co-financing from Shelter Afrique, a Pan African Housing Finance Institution based in Kenya. The project was finished in early 2004.

Brufut Gardens

Overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, opposite the newly built five star Sheraton Hotel, Brufut Gardens is Gambia's most modern and impressive housing estate, comprising over five hundred houses and apartment buildings. This beautiful site is just a five minute drive to Senegambia, The Gambia's main tourism area. Amenities include landscaped terraces and sidewalks with over 1,800 tropical fruit trees, 24 hour electricity and water supply, street lighting, garbage collection and 24 hour security. The total project cost was $35 million. Shelter Afrique has contributed $2.5 million in financing.

Looking to the future

Due to the work of companies such as Taf Gambian Property, the country is fast becoming a major tourist destination and an ideal place for investors to make their mark. As we look forward to the next ten years, Gambia's future is looking bright.

What public-private partnership can do

Public-private partnership work when the main stakeholders put their mind to it. In The Gambia, a partnership between the government and a private company, TAF Holdings, has borne immense fruits.  Here, Mustapha Njie, the CEO of TAF, relates what the company has done in partnership with the government. 

In 2006, The Gambia hosted the African Union (AU) Summit and the government approached TAF Holding Company to build and furnish the presidential residences in the country. We built 52 furnished villas in four months, this was Kofi Annan’s last year as the UN secretary general and he was also in attendance.

We built and managed the AU Villas during this period and the vent itself was attended by over 45 heads of state and other dignitaries. The Summit was one of the biggest ever and went extremely well, with all our properties completed on time, and up to the standards expected by our distinguished guests.

In my new mission, I have a Pan Africa vision in addition to my passion for travelling in Africa. I have been in over 36 African countries thus far. As far as housing in concerned, TAF is now a strong brand in African housing. We have come a very long way and we want to replicate what we are doing in The Gambia in other African countries.

We have made our mark in The Gambia and our success need to be repeated in other growing African economies, targeting the increasing middle class. Our focus is not only on mansions or grand estates; we aim to be putting a roof over people’s heads, and to do it most efficiently with the services are best suited to complementing current lifestyles and need: for example, going green and eco-power.    

We are targeting up to 22 other African countries, and are actually putting together a consortium on housing with a focus on technology, infrastructure and renewable energy, even the possibility of using waste energy; these are all ideas to be tested but we do allow for greater expansions, partnership and co-operation.

We have worked well, and with support from The Gambian government, we have been aided by development incentives to achieve our vision. We would like other potential African governments to see what the government has done with us here in The Gambia, in a successful public-private partnership. The regulatory framework on land administrations has encouraged us to grow and develop.  We would want to see how this model can be successfully transported into other African countries. We market our properties both in and outside of The Gambia, to both Gambians and non-Gambians. We have sponsored TV documentaries in showcasing The Gambia as a tourist destination and an emerging African investment heaven. In our partnered TV campaigns, we also run inspection trips to The Gambia for our potential buyers. Overwhelmingly, the response is positive. This is direct marketing and allows people to see the properties we have to offer and the country itself.

This is important because we are not only promoting quality TAF products and homes, but the country as well. Moreover, I believe we have a responsibility to our countries in Africa as a whole. Our countries are emerging, they are growing, it’s not only the role of the government to promote the country, we are happy to do things in partnership with the government.

For Further Information please visit www.tafgambia.com or email information.services@tafgambia.com

Looking for a tropical holiday but worried about the cost? Why more and more people are choosing The Gambia

In today's financial climate, we're all tightening our belts. With the cost of living rising, affordable holidays to a tropical paradise have become a thing of the past. Or have they? Over the past few months The Gambia has emerged as the perfect choice for those looking for an affordable holiday to a tropical paradise.

Mustapha Njie, CEO of Taf Gambian Property (www.tafgambianproperty.com), is delighted about Gambia's thriving tourism industry: "We've seen a big increase in holidaymakers from the UK and Europe, looking for some of our famous sunshine.Visitors can rent properties in Gambia or choose from a wide variety of hotels, apartments and Gambia holiday packages. Many of them love our country so much that they decide to buy a holiday home! I expect the number of tourists visiting Gambia to increase dramatically over the next few years."

But what is it about The Gambia that is so attractive for tourists? Well, where do you start? The Gambia, situated on the West coast of Africa, is known as 'The Smiling Coast'. The Gambia is situated on approximately the same latitude as Barbados and has all the attractions of a tropical paradise - year-round sunshine, beautiful scenery, amazing wildlife and a rich culture. Yet it's surprisingly affordable and only a five hour flight from the UK. You'll certainly receive a warm welcome in The Gambia, as the people here are considered some of the friendliest on earth.

The Gambia offers a truly rich experience. Yes, you can relax, unwind and spend all day drinking cocktails on the beach, but here you can also enjoy the real Africa. You can visit traditional Gambian villages, explore the African bush and experience the local wildlife - from tropical birds to monkeys and even crocodiles.

Want to find out more?

If you'd like to visit The Gambia, you can choose from all-inclusive Gambian holiday packages, or, if you prefer, there is lots of Gambia property to rent, from affordable apartments to luxurious holiday homes. A quick search online will help you find Gambian estate agents and travel companies.