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Sister Omega
United Kingdom
2085 Posts |
 Posted - 10 Nov 2006 : 19:58:27
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SisO, you're right - it is not the best for Gambia's image. Even here in Germany people tell me they don't want to go to Gambia because they heard that tourism in Africa has a neocolonial touch...
Serenata they aren't far off the mark. German tourists opinion opinions need to expressed and I would go as far as advising them to e-mailing the GTA in Germany and voicing their concerns. After all if the authorities won't listen to their citzens then I am sure they will listen when tourism arrival numbers fall.
Whoever took the decision of arresting and parading these youngsters in front of the cameras should of thought about attracting an international backlash for Gambian Tourism.
The whole Neocolonial flavour image of Gambia is vile and a real turn off in the 21st Century. How can these youth be arrested when bumsterism and truancy aren't illegal offences? This is just blatant harassment.
Before people in power decide to implement strategies and run with them they should throughly research them and have proper consultations. For example it is very easy to cut and paste ideas from the internet and then make them out as your own. Just check what happened with the Sexed up Dossier for Weapons of Mass Destruction leading the invasion of Iraq. That evidence was copied from off of the internet and then fraudlantly paraded as a legitimate British government dossier.
The same thing is happening where Gambian Tourism policy concerned we have discussed in different forums on the net, reviewing newspaper articles and written about the pros and cons of Gambian Bumsters on the beach.
However wouldn't it of been more prudent for government to consult specialists with social development, tourism etc. To draw up a framework which will cater for the needs of youngsters. With children leaving school at year 9 isn't it important for them to have additional skill training. When will government start to deliver and build on the schemes which it has promised to capture the youths vote.
Another area which needs to be addressed is breaking up the monopoly of Gambian Experience and Monrach Airlines, and for Jammeh to allow more competition in this area. This company is the eptimy of neocolonialism and seems to be more powerful than the whole of the Tourist Industry put together including the Ministry.
With the World Travel Market been held this week I am sure the Minster must have taken the oppportunity observe the competition. How many of these countries unique selling point is keeping the host community hostage or under manners or (undercontrol) of Ex pat tour operators. If Gambia is looking for more up market customers it would be better for them to open up their market to more upmarket Tour Operators who give people value for money.
The beach should be a nice place for the local community to visit and agree that they need to be reclaimed by all Gambians before they become exclusively for tourists. The reputation of the beach under the current ill advised policy is becoming that of a redlight, no go area, for local communities and independent travellers, which is off putting. Those in charge seem to be oblivious in how to find solutions that will benefit both Gambians as well as visitors.
Come on it is good to be hospitable but are you really going to keep your own family out of their home for six months of the year because you might be expecting visitors?
Those in Authority should go and explore some successful destinations
who don't bend overbackwards and then some to be doormats. As for the Tour Operators onces they suck Gambia dry, when profits slump in one destination they quickly go on to the next location to spoil it. It's really about time Jammeh brought people into the industry who know what they are doing and who can start to turn this sector around properly without scapegoating the youth and unemployed but freeing up Gambia Tourist Industry to attract a variety of operators, airlines.
As soon as Gambia can get its own airline the better. Really if less civil servants were less afraid of Jammeh and more intent of doing the jobs that they should be doing more would actually get done. I'm sure Jammeh needs Civil Servants who are enthusiastic and capable of doing the jobs they are paid to do instead of being yes personal. Instead of offering constructive criticism or alternative strategies it seems to be "a yes Massa syndrome goining on. Yes Massa Syndrome is spoiling the potential of this vital sector of Gambia's economy and the most pitful thing about it is. That the youth are rejecting farming and leaving the countryside all because they want to eat some crumbs which maybe left by a few tourists. Who have come to walk on the same beach which have been denied from these Gambia children. The Gambia Tourist industry needs a make-over with some drive and enthuiastic personale in their international offices to breathe more life into the sector.
Peace
Sister Omega
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Sister Omega |
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serenata
Germany
1400 Posts |
Posted - 10 Nov 2006 : 21:09:51
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Wow Sister, a good piece.
I think that even if the foreign tour operator problem was solved a difficult balancing act between the tourists' and the people's needs would remain for Gambia.
Most tourists are not aware how much they are part of neocolonial structures (and some don't care). It is necessary to break these structures, but it is also necessary to sensitize the visitors for the situation of their hosts. Maybe a free magazine for every passenger to Gambia could be helpful. Such a magazine should be interesting and nicely illustrated, but more informative than the usual 'Smiling Coast'-PR-blabla. |
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toubab
Gambia
92 Posts |
Posted - 10 Nov 2006 : 22:02:13
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| From what I saw and heard,the police/army were checking everyones papers/ids, and those that didn't have them were rounded up.Unfortunately there were a couple of girls training on the beach and obviously had nowhere to put their ID anyway!!All the sellers, fruit ladies etc were checked as well. I presume it is compulsory to carry your papers with you here, I always do as I get checked regularly, three times in one day on a trip to Banjul this week. At weekends the beach at Kotu is full of Gambian families enjoying themselves,and late afternoons the boys are often there for a game of football, same at Paradise beach at Sanyang, regular picnics there, often church affairs, music , singing dancing, great fun. The beaches outside The Senegambia and Kairaba hotels are well known for being a no go area, presumably at the behest of the hotel owners to 'protect' their guests, even the offical sellers cannot cross an imaginary line - you have to go to them. During the tourist season the checking of papers seems to increase daily, so maybe its a good idea to carry them with you. There are also soldiers stationed in Destinys at the moment whilst it is under investigation and they can constantly survey the beach from there. |
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gambiabev
United Kingdom
3091 Posts |
Posted - 11 Nov 2006 : 09:13:39
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| Why is Destinys under investigation? |
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toubab
Gambia
92 Posts |
Posted - 12 Nov 2006 : 14:27:47
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| I hear its misappropriation of the takings. Another round up at the craft market yesterday at Kotu beach, looking for sellers without papers again, maybe its going to be a regular Saturday thing during tourist season, not pleasant too watch. Also plenty of local kids enjoing the beach and sea yesterday, under the watchful eye of the lifeguard. |
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jambo
3300 Posts |
Posted - 12 Nov 2006 : 19:06:47
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what happened to the craft market outside senegambia hotel, on one of my visits they closed it down even though people had been paying rents.
if you need papers to operate a business on the beach then that is accepted what is not accepted is people who just come and squat, or turn up and take a chance.
if the police are getting rid of them wh are we to say no, but it good be done before the tourist get there, or better still post notice annoucing that only licenced stall holders can operate in these areas.
secondly it is protecting gambians from other african nationals trading there is a limit to what the market can hold. i cannot remember which market it was but they closed one stall down for passing fake money |
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serenata
Germany
1400 Posts |
Posted - 16 Nov 2006 : 15:53:44
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Kondorong, I thought about the Gambia documentary. If you are interested in launching such a project, Idrissou Mora Kpai from Benin could be a good director. There are lots of informations about his films in the internet; lately his documentary 'Arlit, deuxième Paris' was shown in Germany.
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njucks
Gambia
1131 Posts |
Posted - 16 Nov 2006 : 18:01:57
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quote:
Originally posted by serenata
Wow Sister, a good piece.
I think that even if the foreign tour operator problem was solved a difficult balancing act between the tourists' and the people's needs would remain for Gambia.
Most tourists are not aware how much they are part of neocolonial structures (and some don't care).
Sister Omega/Serenata
really i admire your honesty and approach. Serenata i think the opinions of the german tourists should not be taken for granted. most tourist these days are not first timers.they are not stupid and many dont just want to be bussed around in air conditioned buses.
most people in Europe has been travelling since 16 yrs either as backpackers from one european city to another.
i am not surprised that many european would find it disturbing and infact would be uncomfortable coming to an african country knowing the entire tourist industry is foreign owned.
most of the problems in our tourist industry are the result of foreign tour operators. we are just a market? their new found position gives them the advantage to threaten to pack if this or that is not done.
bumsterism, unemployment, etc were all there since the beginnign. there was never full employment in the gambia. but in the 70s and 80s most hotels were owned by gambians or the government. tourism money stayed in the country. gambians controlled their industry.
today look at us, go to senegambia and these these buisnesses/hoteliers are quite comfortable with prostitutes standing next to dining tourist because its good for business but they are not comfortable with gambians on the beach. |
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serenata
Germany
1400 Posts |
Posted - 16 Nov 2006 : 19:08:05
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| Njucks, you are right. I hope the new Minister is willing to change things for the better. If I read what people like Drammehkangi write here in the Bantaba, I know that today Gambia has its own tourism experts, and if the government works with those people the dependency on foreign operators could end one day. But unfortunately the 'foreign investor' is still a holy cow - not only in Gambia. |
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kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
Posted - 16 Nov 2006 : 19:16:56
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quote:
Originally posted by serenata
Njucks, you are right. I hope the new Minister is willing to change things for the better. If I read what people like Drammehkangi write here in the Bantaba, I know that today Gambia has its own tourism experts, and if the government works with those people the dependency on foreign operators could end one day. But unfortunately the 'foreign investor' is still a holy cow - not only in Gambia.
Not only a Holy Cow but also a Cash Cow. |
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