(JollofNews) – President Adama Barrow of the Gambia has revealed that his government is working on modalities to introduce an all year-round tourism in the country.
Tourism is the fastest growing sector in the Gambian economy. It accounts for about 16 per cent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product and is also the biggest foreign exchange earner.
Speaking at a meeting with some Gambians living in Norway and their Norwegian and Bulgarian partners interested in investing in the Gambia, Mr Barrow said in line with his campaign promises, his government intends to transform the Gambia into an attractive hub for investors and visitors.
He added that his regime is ready to do business and will market the Gambia to tour operators and travel agents in the Scandinavia to increase the number of visitors to the country.
Mr Barrow said his regime had inherited a broken economy built on ‘ a pay as you go’ principle in which soft loans were taken every three months to run the country’s economy.
He added that his government is embarking on serious reforms and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Employment is working with other ministries to reduce bureaucracy in the civil service and government agencies.
He added that some structural changes have been effected at his office to decongest the Office of the President by reassigning the different portfolios to the right line ministries.
The president said he is proud and pleased that Gambians are responding to his call to help rebuild the country. He commended Gambians for their support and contributions in the restoration of true democracy in the country.
He said all Gambians especially activists who were forced into exile for speaking out against the excesses of his predecessor’s regime are free to return and help rebuild the country.
He added that the activists fought for political change in the Gambia based on the principles of democracy, and his regime will guarantee and safeguard the rights and freedoms of all Gambians.
Also speaking at the meeting, Ndey Jobarteh, a Gambian activist in Norway and said the previous Gambian regime did not exploit the Scandinavian opportunities and it is time to engage the Norwegians.
She briefed the president of the activities they did to prepare the visiting team and the immediate actions, taken during the visit to support the health, energy sectors amongst others. She expressed the urgency to work on bilateral relations with Norway and the plan to work with Norwegian government.
Excellent news; With a refreshing attitude/ vibrant and engaging. 10 out of 10.
Lets hope they can bring back Gambian Bird and the network hub it offered, which was a big move for The Gambia, Gambia was punching way above its weight, Bravo, I wonder who was behind that venture? Sometimes I do wonder if the Ebola virus, was engineered to bring down that project? Anyways the service was good and their aeroplanes were modern, I’m tired of giving my hard earned money to Thomas cook and Gambia experience.
News item:
“Tourism is the fasting growing sector in the Gambian economy. It accounts for about 16 per cent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product and is also the biggest foreign exchange earner”.
Tourism may very well be the fastest growing sector of the Gambian economy but it may very well be just that!
Not when we have blue collar English tourists paying on average 9 Pounds a night for bed and breakfast in a Gambian hotel. That’s D540 that must go to service investor debt, workers’ wages, utilities and sundry! Meanwhile, Gambian hotels at the local level are constantly working not only to spell their own demise but also price themselves out of international tourist markets in Thailand, the Canary Islands, Senegal and Morocco.
Frankly, I am hard-pressed to find the reason(s) that tourists must pay more than D100 for a bottle of soda pop or locally brewed beer and over D1000 for a half decent pepper steak dinner where the steak doesn’t meet muster. This is not being unduly critical of the local tourist industry but offering a critical self assessment of what obtains on the ground that is neither sustainable nor helping the average Gambian tourism employee in the medium term.
It doesn’t make sense that a Gambian living at home or abroad is charged more than the measly 9 Pounds Sterling that the British tourist pays for Bed and Breakfast at a Gambian hotel. The same British tourists then go on to spend little money for subsistence but will instead subsist on Tapa Lapa and Sardines from the local Fula shop! I urge anyone to call a local tourist hotel for a quote on a week’s stay. You’d be surprised to find that the rates would be higher than that of the European tourist. Strength in numbers one would argue. Nooo! All on the backs of Gambians.
Someone else will counter that this is the same Andrew that calls for free enterprise and private sector led growth. Sure, it’s the same fellow. However, fair prices and living wages are key ingredients in fostering sustainable growth. Not when you have cheap tourists being subsidized by Gambian hoteliers that only survive because they would bank all their foreign takings in Europe, scrape up local earnings to run the hotel and turn around and sell foreign currency in the black market at much higher rates!
Tourism in The Gambia is no longer what it used to be since the Scandinavian tourists moved to Far Eastern markets in droves.
Let’s take stock in the attempt to correct the wrongs in the system! My two cents.
The tourism industry is the one of the most competitive industries in the world. The countries that get the whole package right reap all the benefits. Jammeh promised much and delivered very little. He was forever touting that he would attract the higher earners, but failed even to maintain the historical core package holiday makers.
Bad publicity and Ebola certainly did not help the cause. The high profile terrorist attacks only reinforced the notion of insecurity in Africa following the massacre of 30 British tourists on the beaches of Tunisia. But wait !!! Gambia can return to growth. This Blueprint from the Government has much merit and ambition. Any increase in it’s contribution to GDP will have remarkable asset value to the Gambian economy. @and yes all year round tourism requires advanced and professional marketing. I much preferred the closed season.
Diaspora Tourism should also be explored. Africans in the diaspora should be exploited
Sound as if you are overloaded with negative.
Feel like home in the Gambia; an individual message to all positive tourists.
Denigrating Impoverished British tourists is a slur on any right minded person..
I have always felt that the Gambian and the British tourist had much in common.
Tourism targets markets that offer tourism products. In this case vacation packages, unique offerings of destinations, plus a vibrant service sector.
One cannot stop any tourists from visiting a particular destination(s) of their choice. However, state government bodies, promoters of the destination and tour operators must show commitment to attracting and tapping into markets that bring paying and decent tourists. Not your average, run of the mill Brit, freeloader of a tourist!
Nothing against the Brits. They’re overall just too cheap for destination Gambia! The Gambia must look to tap into more attractive markets. Not those that work in the interest of tour operators alone!
High flying Russians and Scandinavians may be a better bet for destination Gambia!
Brits in Gambia are the scally types; the high-spending middle-class to Kenya, Zimbabwe or South Africa (where a Safari one-week holiday can cost £3,000).
Dormu Rewwum Gambia (aka Luntango Suun Gann Gi), you have answered one of the question, offer Gambian Safari.
With a twist!
You got me laughing Grim Reaper! Read the brilliant piece by Foday Samateh on Deyda Hydara at Sambagate.
I’d say to bring back Benjamin Roberts the former Minister of Tourism that’s certainly got better ideas and a better head on his shoulders than the relic that we now have as a Minister of Tourism.
But what do I know??
Hey Dida, I promised you that I wouldn’t be found flogging…….any more!
Wacha Mzee, I was just using the word as a regular adjective!
Yes the Brits do franchise with local communities to build schools and health centres and gives refuge to many refugees including the persecuted and former Daily Observer left wing radicals.
WE also gave a safe heaven for two out of three Gambian Presidents.
Long Live The Queen of freedom.