Today Newspaper - Online Edition - The Gambia's Quality Newspaper: Jammeh bemoans bumster acts around TDA

Jammeh bemoans bumster acts around TDA
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Gbola Adiamoh on 08 March, 2010 08:00:00
 
The activities of tourist touts, popularly called bumsters has drawn the ire of
the Gambian leader, who said that henceforth the activities of these people
shall not be tolerated.
Speaking on Thursday when stakeholders form the country’s tourism industry
met with him at the State House, the President said there will be zero tolerance
for bumsters who try to lure tourists so that they could satisfy their personal
interests. According to him, many of these bumsters seek opportunities to travel
abroad and want tourists who may facilitate this. He noted however that bumsing
is not the right way to travel abroad, urging relevant authorities to put an end
to it.
He said tourism is one of the key sectors that are most vital to the
government; therefore it is important that tourists are safe from peddling by
these people.
He said the role of the government is to create an environment conducive for
public-private partnership, and thus there is the need for both sectors to work
today to ensure that they achieve concrete results.
The president also asked tourism stakeholders to diversify the Gambia culture
ansd local products so that more tourists could be attracted. Exposing them to
the same treatment year in year out would be monotonous, he said.
Speaking on the erosion which is hampering the tourism area, the president
revealed the government’s plan to construct a sea wall to protect the sandy
beaches. He also advised hoteliers to recruit their work force from among the
local people.
Responding, the director general of The Gambia Tourism Authority (GTA), Binta
Jobe, said she was inspired by the president's ambition to turn The Gambia into
a tourist paradise. According to her, the president should be hailed for his
numerous development efforts which among others include the coastal road and the
beach erosion project.
She also expressed the GTA’s resolve to make The Gambia the destination
choice for tourists.
Speaking on behalf of the stakeholders, Batch Samba Fye expressed delight at
the numerous achievements made by the president since 1994, towards the tourism
sector. These include the provision of streetlights spanning from the Airport
through the TDA to Banjul. This he said is a fundamental step in creating a
welcoming environment for tourists. Fye also said that the president’s efforts
at upgrading the Gambia Hotel School and the introduction of the airline
incentive are commendable.
He however noted that despite these laudable efforts, the tourism industry is
still beset by major challenges among which was the loss of the core UK market
that is Thomson and First Choice. He disclosed that Thomas Cook Norway pulled
out 26 flights this season, Thomas Cook Finland reduced from 26 to 8 flights per
season, Thomas Cook Denmark decided to pull out their 26 flights by next winter
and the Italian Chartered flights which has been operating for the past two
years in the country are now flying to Dakar and Cape Verde.
He said apart from government's efforts, stakeholders have also made attempts
by reducing rates and giving offers to tour operators as incentives but these
seem not to be enough. He therefore appealed to government to increase
incentives.
Mr. Fye also pointed out that sales tax, tourism levy, airport and expatriate
quota charged to the tour operators are expensive, therefore making The Gambia
an expensive destination.
He pointed out that there is also the need to increase awareness of the Gambia
as a tourist destination and that as stakeholders they have also been engaged in
regaining the German market by agreeing to contribute £50,000 for a joint
marketing campaign. He said they are currently promoting sub-regional tourism in
Senegal, Ghana and Nigeria.
Other speakers included the Minister of Tourism and Culture, Fatou Mass Jobe
Njie and Finance minister, Mr. Abdou Kolley.