Sustainability is key in the world of Tourism but some countries battle with sustainability, simply because of their weather, flight access and other reasons. As a Country willing to boost her GDP through tourism, The Gambia is making effort at increasing the population of tourists that visit the country globally round the year. With its second best eco-tourism sites in Africa, The Gambia through its representative in Nigeria recently invited some journalists from Nigeria for a media tour of the country. LAOLU ADEYEMI who was there reports.
THE Gambia, the smiling coast of Africa is now one of the most preferred tourist destinations in Africa. What an irony? A former hunting ground for slaves has eventually become a tourist haven besieged by fun seekers from Europe, Americas and other continents. Starting from November to May of the following year, Gambia, blessed with beautiful beaches, sands and sun, is a beehive of activity.
Though small in population, arguably Gambia is the most peaceful nation in the West Africa. It is also about the second most preferred ecotourism destination in Africa.
The Country is not just blessed with good tourism sites; they are also blessed with good friendly people who have over the years explored farming and fishing as major occupation. In Gambia, cassava, cashew, groundnuts and other cash crops thrive better and this has contributed significantly to the nation’s export revenue. This explains why her currency (Dalasis) keeps gaining strength against Naira -the Nigerian currency. (Presently, seven Naira exchanges for one Dalasis).
Yet the country is prepared to diversify her economy through tourism. Government through Gambia Tourism Board (GTB) and Ministry of Tourism and Culture is working towards given greater attention to tourism, especially to Nigerians.
According to the Director General of GTB, Benjamin Roberts, Gambia government is fast making effort to attract tourists from Nigeria and every other part of the world. Towards this ends, deliberate efforts have been made by government to improve flight access by bringing Gambia Birds to ply Nigeria route directly. This initiative, he said, would augment services of the Arik airline- the only airline that plies Nigeria- Gambia at the moment, and bring down airline fares.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Tourism. Mr. Momodu Joof confirmed to the Guardian that the Gambian Birds would from this month start flying to Nigeria and bring passengers from Nigeria. Joof described the effort as deliberate in boosting population of tourist round the year. “The gesture will not only help Nigerians to fly freely to Gambia but also attracts investor,” saying air access has been a major challenge to Gambia tourism. Joof disclosed that her government wants the nation’s tourism business to cease from being seasonal. “We want to make Gambia a tourist destination throughout the year as against having November to April as our peak season”. “Seasonal Tourism is not good for our investors and our Economy”.
Joof however disclosed that Gambia government is also aware of the challenges that tourism brings to a nation, and that the government has put in place some measures to check any ugly development.
When asked to specifically mention those measures put in place, Joof said there are policies to check incidents of peadophilia associated with visitors coming to the country. It has also restricts minors from entering the tourist sites during school hours. Joof stated emphatically that any minor found around any tourist sites within school hour would be punished.
When told that some minors were reportedly seen on the beaches during school hour, Joof admitted that some security officers in charge of the beach security compromised and the President had recently fired some of them. “But we are working harder on our tourism security to check that,” he added.
DG Gambian Tourism Board, noted that the country is blessed with different tourist destinations that are majorly eco-friendly. ‘Parts of these tourist destinations are Makasutu camp base, Kinta-Kunte Island which is formerly known as Forth James Island, River Gambia, Albreda Juffereh town which are located on the north bank of the River Gambia; beach resort hotels among others’.
All these tourism sites are always a haven for many tourists from Sweden, Europe and people from other part of the world from November to April of any year. The number of tourists that visit Gambia yearly keep increasing year in year out during this peak period and it help boost the nation’s economy.
On the other hand, the economy growth slides during off –peak season leading to mass unemployment, “this is not good for the nation economy,” the DG said.
According to him, this does not just affect the country’s economy but it also scale up the crimes rate, which could threaten the peace of the country. “Gambia is known for being peaceful in the whole of Africa and this is a unique selling point to tourists globally and we don’t want anything to negate it.
“This is why the government through GTB is trying to repackage the Gambian tourism to attract more tourists during off-peak period for any event, social functions or any other program. When this is actualized, economy of the country will boom and this in turn will impact positively on job creation within the industry”.
source:(http://www.ngrguardiannews.com)
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