Chris Rowles, managing director of Serenity Holidays, returned to the UK following 10 days on the ground in the West African county.

In a statement, he praised the work of both UK-based and in-destination staff to “successfully execute our emergency repatriation plan in such a short space of time.”

Rowles added that the operator was “delighted” to be resuming its flying programme to Gambia on January 27.

Although Rowles said the recommencement of flights was “tinged” with sadness after the political unrest marred the start of the company’s 30th year operating to the country.

“This is also tinged with a certain sense of sadness that, as we enter our 30th year arranging travel to The Gambia, that our customers and The Gambian people have been so adversely affected by events beyond their or our control,” he said.

The FCO changed its travel advice for Gambia last week, advising “against all but essential travel” to the country.

Long-time president Yahya Jammeh agreed to stand down over the weekend after previously refusing to accept defeat in elections last December.

Rowles added that following the swearing in of new president Adama Barrow, The Gambia Experience was “excited to look ahead to a very positive and bright future” for the country.