The Government of The Gambia has launched a comprehensive review of the country’s all-inclusive tourism policy in response to growing concerns about its impact on local businesses and the wider economy.
The announcement was made by the Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Hon. Abdoulie Jobe, during a Ministerial Town Hall meeting held on Friday evening at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Centre in Bijilo.
Addressing stakeholders, Minister Jobe acknowledged that the all-inclusive tourism model remains one of the most debated issues within The Gambia’s tourism industry. While the model has played an important role in attracting international visitors and encouraging investment in the hospitality sector, concerns have persisted over the limited economic benefits reaching local businesses, vendors and surrounding communities.
The minister stressed that the government would not rush into making policy decisions that could have unintended consequences for the tourism sector.
“For us as a government, we just don’t want to take decisions out of the blue. We always make sure that when we take a decision, it is looked at holistically,” Hon. Jobe said.
To guide the process, the Ministry has tasked the Gambia Tourism Board (GTBoard) with conducting a comprehensive assessment of the socioeconomic effects of all-inclusive holiday packages. The exercise will include consultations with key stakeholders across the tourism value chain, including hotel operators, tour operators, local businesses, community representatives and industry experts.
According to the minister, the findings of the review will provide the evidence needed to inform the government’s future policy direction.
“The GTBoard’s findings will be used to advise the government and map out a formal, strategic policy direction,” he stated.
The review is expected to examine how the all-inclusive model affects revenue distribution within the tourism sector, employment opportunities, local supply chains and the participation of small and medium-sized enterprises in the industry.
For years, business owners operating outside hotel premises including restaurant operators, craft market vendors, taxi drivers and tour guides have argued that all-inclusive packages limit visitor spending beyond hotel compounds, reducing the broader economic benefits of tourism.
At the same time, hotel investors have maintained that the all-inclusive model remains an important product for attracting international tourists and sustaining competitiveness in an increasingly challenging global travel market.
The government’s review seeks to strike a balance between these competing interests by safeguarding investment in the hospitality industry while ensuring that tourism generates greater economic opportunities for Gambian entrepreneurs and local communities.
The Ministry has indicated that the consultation process will form the basis of a strategic policy framework aimed at promoting a more inclusive and sustainable tourism sector, ensuring that the benefits of one of The Gambia’s key economic industries are more widely shared across the country.
