Home : General : Gambia News: Informal Sector Not Benefiting Much From Tourism
Gambia News: Informal Sector Not Benefiting Much From Tourism
The informal sector does not benefit much from
tourism, especially this year, the Public Relations Officer of the
Official Tourist Guides at the Senegambia Beach Hotel, Lamin Kinteh,
opined in an interview with this reporter on Thursday. He said the
informal sector comprises tourist guides, taxi drivers, craft sellers,
juice pressers and hair-dressers.
He said the
tourists did not have enough information about The Gambia which should
be given to them by the tour operators. He added that the tour
operators should make their (tourist guides) job known to the tourists.
Kinteh noted that they (tourist guides) are the mediators between the
tourists and the local community. He said they should be going with the
tourists in the community but the tourists do not have enough
information about them (tourist guides). He added that with proper and
correct information going around, the tourists would not go on their
own when they need guides. Kinteh noted that every business should be
promoted as far as tourism is concerned in the country, noting that if
there is proper dissemination of information, the whole informal sector
would benefit.
One guide by the of Lamin, said the number of tourists coming to The
Gambia this season is very good and that for the first time tourists
from Italy have come to The Gambia and that is a result of GTA's
intervention that new markets have been found. He pointed out that the
number of tourists who have been coming to The Gambia for the last 10
years (old friends) has been reduced this season but as he said new
ones need to come.
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- Well I don't think that it is the Tourism industry that should seek local service providers for information on there businesses. Gambian small business owners need to understand that there is plenty of business to go all around. there seems to be a fear of working together. Strength is in numbers. For instance taxi drivers and companies (if there is such) should move to uniting and establish a union, where they can discuss, routes, fares, practices, common issues, solutions etc. but beyond that have a common unifying voice so that they can approach the tourism industry with not only complaints but practical solutions and information. Organization is the key to success. the people need to promote themselves and their business, if there isnt a place for them at the table demand one. Education is really whats at the forefront of this problem not the lack of inclusion.
(Posted on March 5, 2008, 12:04 AM Sulayman Konte)
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