The Gambia has announced controversial plans to levy a US$40 fee on all passengers landing and departing from the country’s only international airport in Yundum.
The civil aviation border control fee which comes into effect on 15th January 2019 is part of measures being introduced by the government of President Adama Barrow to fund the contract for the provision of the civil aviation and immigration security and E-visa management services.
The fee will also cover the training of airport security officials and the maintenance of the system 24/7, the Ministry of the Interior, in full agreement with the full legislation of the Republic of the Gambia.
The government said the decision to upgrade without delay its system for the screening of travelers arriving and departing the country through its international airport to ensure the safety of the air transportation industry was due to threats posed by international terrorist groups throughout the region against the safety of local citizens and foreign visitors on arrival and departure to/from the country’s international airport and in order to identify terrorists, criminals, and drug traffickers that would use the airport and thereby affect the safety of civil aviation (international and regional airlines and airports), including airline passengers, airport facilities, and aircraft.
As part of the scheme, the fee will be collected ‘directly by all the airlines operating in the Gambia, from each of their international passengers, both upon departure and arrival, either at the moment of ticket sale or at the issuing of the boarding pass.
Exempted from paying the fee are aircraft crew of international commercial flights, airline staff (ID tickets), children from aged from 0 -2 years, passengers whose transit time does not exceed 24 hours and passengers whose flights are diverted to the Gambia.
Airlines will be task with the full responsibility of collecting and payment of the fee to the civil aviation authority of the Gambia for all tickets issued to international passengers arriving or departing the country.
Criticism
Meanwhile, a former Gambian Trade and Foreign minister under the previous regime of Yahya Jammeh said the fee will have a devastating impact on the country’s tourism industry.
“It could kill whatever is left of an industry that faces numerous challenges that include but not limited to product deterioration, regional and international competition from destinations that provide tourists with more choices,” Mr sanneh said.
Writing in his blog, he added: “The tourism sector is struggling to return to its pre-Ebola strength (2014 – 2015) and to add $40 to the price of a return ticket will all but kill the industry. Operator are worried and probably so are airline operators. We have learned that GCAA [Gambia Civil Aviation Authority] was trying to propose a $4 – yes, four US dollars – hike which they are having trouble getting the support of the industry. Government is now proposing a ten-fold increase which make little economic of financial sense.
When one considers that the proposed increase is coming at the heels of the decision by FTI, a major and influential German tour operator, to cancel its 2018 – 2019 Winter charter flights to The Gambia despite previous assurances that it will increase its weekly flights into Banjul. The decision will obviously mean less tourist visitors, unless a competitor finds it commercially feasible to fill the void – a highly unlike scenario.”
TRYING TO RUN BEFORE YOU CRAWL, IS ONLY EXPECTED OF A CHILD: There is a reported story of the old Senegalese man who felt that things were better under the French and asked a rather pertinent and salient question to President Senghor. He asked, “when this Independence end”? Referring to the newly Independent Senegalese Nation’s Independence from France. Arguably, the gentleman may be called all kinds of names for
seemingly preferring Colonialism over Independence. Such a kneejerk reaction would be a lack of understanding of the full context of the old gentleman’s question. One thing he cannot be called is, ignorant and or not informed on the value of the CFA before and after Independence vis a vie the cost of everything else, especially, the costs of imported goods vs. those produced locally in Senegal at the time of Independence.
I second his question in a form of a question to the President Adama Barrow and Ousainou Darbo’s Regime in the Gambia. When will our current kind or type of “New Gambia End”? “New” does not necessarily mean “Improved”. Nor does blaming the past on everything, remedy or solve a problem of the Present and the Future. The Adama Barrow and Ousainou Darbo regime cannot afford to run a government by “Default”. Arguably, some of the Gambian government’s way of doing business need to be examined and where found wanting, “Refined” and “Streamlined” to provide maximum beneficiation to the Gambians of all Social Strata and Political Affliction.
Government by “Default” of whenever something goes wrong , it is the Jammeh Regime’s fault, the Gambian Diaspora, the “Empty Treasury” which by the way is being looted and relooted from the day Yaya Jammeh boarded the plane and headed into exile to date, would not do. It is pattently clear to most clear thinking and objective Gambians that the “blame the Jammeh Regime’s excesses is now a cynical and hypocritical “Default” for the New Gambian regime and its “Hear no evil”, and “See no evil” in matters of Corruption, Incompetence and Dereliction of Duty by those entrusted with the governance of the Affairs of the Gambia. When will this kind or type of the “New Gambia End”? Some more informed Gambians about the State of Gambia’s Affairs may say, “Looting is not enough for this Crew of the New Gambia”. They are diabolical enough to want to bite the hand that feeds them, in this case, the Gambian Tourist Industry and the “gate-keeper” Mr. Bah who seems destined to give the “Last Rites” to the Gambian Tourist Industry. Mr. Bah is running after a few dollars ($40 fees) compared to the overall revenue that can and would be generated in an increase and or a significant uptick in Tourist numbers and Tourism in the Gambia, if only the Right Branding and Marketing is undertaken. This may require a Concious, Strategic and sustained Campaign after an indept Survey and Research into finding a Nich among Gambia’s competitors, and then Capitalize on that Nich by Promoting it to the identified target Countries and Tourists. You see one Golden Beach, you have seen them all. The difference is, what you offer to the individual Tourists that makes him or her want to visit Gambia and more importantly, not only come back but recommend Gambia as a Tourist destination for others. The Minister of Tourism Mr. Hamat Bah should be aware of the following: There is a direct link to the deminishing number of Tourists or people who visit a country on the one hand, and the Fees, Charges, and added costs to tickets, and therefore, costs of travel to a Country as a Tourist. At a time that the new government in Gambia is trying to increase the number of Tourists going to the Gambia, the Minister of Tourism, Mr. Bah may inadvertently be engaging in the proverbial reckless behavior of “cutting ones nose to spite ones face”. In this case, “recklessly” implementating a Policy that is counter intuitive to a Successful increase and uptick in Tourism in the Gambia. Fourty dollars ($40) may seem reasonable to a Novice in matters of Human behavior and Tourism in particular. However, it has be seen in the context of what your competitors are offering, vis a vie their Tourism’s Cost effectiveness as compared to yours. Mr. Bah need to reconsider his proposal and shelf it for another five or ten years. Failure to do so would doom the Semi-comatose Gambian Tourism Industry. Mr. Bah should be called in by President Barrow and taken to the Beach for a “Walkabout”. Any Beach for a lesson on something similar to a “Passage of Rites” on Hospitality and Management and Promotion of Tourism as it relates to Minister Hamat Bah’s Portfolio as the Minister of Tourism. Mr. Bah will sink Gambia’s Tourism before it is able to get up on its feet. Now is the time to provide incentives for Tourist and Diapora Gambians to visit the Gambia. It is Not a time to add more costs for anyone thinking of visiting the Gambia, Tourists or not. This does not mean that the Gambia should not collect the normal and standard charges, fees and taxes that our competitors levy on Tourists. It means, Gambia needs to do it smartly. If need be, increamentally and in a manner that does not defeat your objective of revenue increament. Any other added costs would only make the cost for Tourists visiting Gambia more expensive compared to our competitors and depress any increase or uptick in Tourists numbers and Tourism to the Gambia. If Minister Bah does not relent on his proposed Tourism killing adventure, Economics 101, Business Administration and Management 101 may be required reading for Mr. Bah. Please Mr. Bah, don’t stunt Gambia’s Tourism by injecting it with a bitter pill that the patient (the Gambian Tourist Industry) does not need. The adage “Do No Harm” should be a Mantra in all Ministeries and by all Ministers and Civil Servants entrusted with the Affairs of the Gambians State. Let it begin with Mr. Bah. Mr. Bah needs to review and reconsider his current proposal and President Barrow, his entire Cabinet and the National Assembly need to be involved in Policy Making of this magnitude. Tourism is the Second, if not the first income earner for the Gambia and as such, tinkering with it should be done with extream attention and care. Minister Hamat Bah’s $40 added cost is the direct opposite of a well thought through Policy. Please Minister Bah, Do No Harm to the Gambian Tourist Industry..