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Sister Omega
United Kingdom
2085 Posts |
 Posted - 15 Sep 2007 : 21:13:34
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It seem that the environment is now on emerging at the top of the international agenda with more and more people being made to change habits of a life to time to save our planet. The UK government have been cashing in hard on 4 wheel guzzlers, i.e 4 wheel drives with the polluters principle in full sway. The trash we through away now being recycled. Smoking bands in public places are creeping in on us diehard smokers pardon the pun  . Now we are seeing the buy local campaign coming in with an ethical label attached to it carbon footprints, miles and offsetting. The British government have yes once again introduced another form of tax to dissuade holidaymakers by imposing more tax on cheap flights to curtail air travel justified by Global Warming. So what impacts is a reduction of Tourism going to have on winter sun destinations such as Gambia. When Britons can top up their tan with a sun bed anytime of the year. With house prices and interest rates going up with no end in sight int the UK, fewer people will be thinking twice this session to pull out the plastic.
Now I'm coming to the point. How is Gambia's Tourist Industry going to adapt to these new trends. Why should tourists still travel to the Gambia at the cost of their pocket and the environment?
Peace
Sister Omega
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Peace
Sister Omega |
Edited by - Sister Omega on 15 Sep 2007 21:16:10 |
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gambiabev
United Kingdom
3091 Posts |
Posted - 15 Sep 2007 : 22:05:22
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Sometimes it almost feels like anything that is fun is bad for the planet.
I use a tumbler drier  I am thinking of negotiating a deal with the eco god in the sky and saying if I give up plastic packaging and tumbler for two months does that give me a guilt free trip to Gambia??? 
We used to aspire to 2 holidays abroad a year, and feel successful if we managed it. Now it is something else to feel guilty about. 
If I have two trips a year and my dad has none do we cancel each other out?
Sorry if that is a bit flipant. It is very complex and I am not sure there is an easy answer.
I take 2 trips a year on average. Is that OK? Or too many? I spend my summers at home in UK. I try to go abroad at new year and spring break.
Does anyone have a web site for working out your carbon footprint? I would like to try. Ideally I would like to have a break even impact on the planet. ie I live my life without spoiling the planet for my grand children. 
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jambo
3300 Posts |
Posted - 17 Sep 2007 : 10:22:18
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| some many conferences, so mnay seminars, so many talks, it is quite easy to offset the travel situation, rethink how you travel, plant more trees, more greener, harness solar and water power. but i do think that it is not in the itnerest or "money people" to do these things, certain things have a hidden agenda. |
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njucks
Gambia
1131 Posts |
Posted - 17 Sep 2007 : 10:38:02
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Sister Omega
this is a brillaint topic. personally i think eco-tourism can be a big boost for the gambia if we understand it and take advantage of it properly. more and more europeans are becoming increasingly aware of their ecological footprint and this will affect choice of holidays in the future especially with their governments taxing flights.
Hotel, lodges etc here should be rated on their eco-friendliness so as to encourage them to use the sun for some of their energy as well. for example solar water heaters and solar panels in tourist accomodation can reduce carbon footprints.
this way a tourist from europe who comes to the gambia for holiday for two weeks and stays in an eco-frienldy accomodation using renewable energy will have a low carbon footprint and also the fact that during those two weeks he/she is consuming almost zero energy in his/her native country they should be awarded carbon credits by their governments.
i think this can open a new 'green certificates' market even in a small country liek the gambia.
gambiabev,carbon footprint also depends on the energy mix of the country, like UK you have nuclear power, wind etc.
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inez
279 Posts |
Posted - 17 Sep 2007 : 15:46:24
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| You are so right njucks! I think this will benefit tourism in Gambia more than in countries like Thailand. Here they found out that people with lower income (in Sweden, but I guess everywhere)are environment friendlier without even knowing it...and if you add the fact that most people consume less energy and simply consume less of everything when they are saving for the trip, it will be necessary to continue travelling to Gambia. Itīs the rich people who needs to change their habits most when it comes to everyday life and even to travelling habits. |
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Sister Omega
United Kingdom
2085 Posts |
Posted - 18 Sep 2007 : 01:33:47
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Hi Njucks,
Yes this is a fascinating subject and one that Gambia can really benefit from if they focus on eco-tourism instead of giving lip-service to it. I think upcountry would really benefit from such a policy. With beach erosion,unclean beaches and lack of sanitary provision near to the coastal areas not to mention the stigma of Bumster etc. Eco-tourism would allow a better dispersion of tourism into the rural areas in a more controlled and eco-friendily way. This type of conservation and preservation of rural lifestyle will promote the useage of solar energy, water conservation and agroforestry as well as culural capital to assist in ehancing Gambia's Tourist product. Essentially generating growth and opportunities into the interior of Gambia, thus increasing more employment within rural communities and giving more incentives for the Youth to stay within their communities than drifting to the beach. I think Gambia's Tourist Product will genuinely benefit if Ethical Tourism really has teeth. What I mean is instead of Officials spouting buzz words they really put need to put the meanings of these words into practice by understanding their true meaning. Gambia needs to transfer and diversify it's Tourist Product if it intends to survive in this increasingly compeditive industry. Instead of adopting a centralising approach Tourism needs to be decentralised and Gambians need to have a proper share of the revenue and opportunities of this important sector in order for the foreign exchange to filter into the areas that can benefit both the environment and employment.
Gambia's Tourist Product needs to be more ethicial and this means proper consultation with the grassroots to create a ethical or eco-tourism product will attract Tourists to contribute to Sustainable development which really gives opportunities to the poor , conserves the environment and stops the leakage of foreign exchange benefitting major stakeholders i.e tour operators, airlines, and foreign business people more than it does the Gambia and the people.
Peace
Sister Omega |
Peace
Sister Omega |
Edited by - Sister Omega on 18 Sep 2007 01:38:03 |
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jambo
3300 Posts |
Posted - 18 Sep 2007 : 09:59:45
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| we know what gambia needs to do regarding tourism, but will they do it, you can give them many ideas but if they do not want it why talk. also, who will implement the changes. |
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Sister Omega
United Kingdom
2085 Posts |
Posted - 18 Sep 2007 : 23:31:33
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Jambo individuals make changes and when like minded people get together things can and will happen if not immediately but eventually. After all nothing happens before its time. There are examples of eco-tourism in Gambia. It will be the private sector who will lead the way. After all ethical consumerism and environmental awareness goes hand in hand. There are different types of travellers who visit Gambia from inside and outside of the country. It is obvious to those of us who have tried to advise and work with those within the industry to bring about changes to benefit the poor. But it is the culture of Tourism that will eventually force changes by less international tourists voting with their feet and hopping on to flights bound to other destinations who are more ethically friendily. If Gambia fails to address environmental and ethical concerns. That will force change after all change is the only constant in life.
peace
Sister Omega |
Peace
Sister Omega |
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jambo
3300 Posts |
Posted - 19 Sep 2007 : 13:05:06
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I think Gambia's Tourist Product will genuinely benefit if Ethical Tourism really has teeth. What I mean is instead of Officials spouting buzz words they really put need to put the meanings of these words into practice by understanding their true meaning. Gambia needs to transfer and diversify it's Tourist Product if it intends to survive in this increasingly compeditive industry.
i do think you should run this project, they way gambia tourism is going it seems more against tourism and not pro tourism. all your suggestions are great but putting it into practice is something else, an example name the eco tourist places to stay in gambia, what is the web site, how do you get there.
individuals do help, but we have to work hand in hand with the locals, government at regional level and ministerial level.
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Sister Omega
United Kingdom
2085 Posts |
Posted - 21 Sep 2007 : 20:01:55
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The government has provided a framework to attract investors ultimately once land is acquired it is private investors who will stir projects in conjunction with local communities to bring eco- projects into reality.
Peace
Sister Omega |
Peace
Sister Omega |
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Serekundajock
United Kingdom
60 Posts |
Posted - 25 Nov 2007 : 22:14:05
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I personally do not believe in this global warming thing.
There is no actual evidence to prove it either way. We only hear of incidents that happen that are attributed to global warming. We never here of any experts with contradicting evidence. If it keeps going like this it will be back to the bad old days where only the rich can go on holiday.The UK government are only trying to collect more taxes from us. They are not interested in anything but there own welfare. If the world was heating up we would have less storms not more. After all storms are cause between the conflicts of tropics and the north and southpoles. More it heats up less conflict then no storms. Nothing wrong with being eco though but that would be a self-imposed cost unlike taxes. |
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Jack
Belgium
384 Posts |
Posted - 26 Nov 2007 : 10:00:10
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There is nothing to believe about global warming. It is proven by scientists and measurements : the poles are melting, the glaciers are melting, fish migration is changing, just to name a few proven changes caused by rising of temperature.
The problem is what can we do about it ? Not that simple. Unless the measures are very drastically, there will be no improvement. Our carbon reserves which were made during million and million years are burned in 150 years. Who or what measure can add this carbons back into the soil ???
The crucial -but unspoken - theme is world population. Far toooooo big, and still growing. There is no space enough on earth (nature-forest-..) to recover from human impact. |
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kayjatta
2978 Posts |
Posted - 26 Nov 2007 : 10:10:42
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| Thanks Jack, you have spoken for me. I can save my words on this one... |
Edited by - kayjatta on 26 Nov 2007 10:10:59 |
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njucks
Gambia
1131 Posts |
Posted - 26 Nov 2007 : 12:43:21
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quote:
Originally posted by Serekundajock
I personally do not believe in this global warming thing.
i think its generally accepted that the earth is warming up. the question is what will be the impact for humans in the future. this is the 'area' or where you might have your doubts if you like. but its definitely warming up.
i agree with you that politician have highjacked the debate/problem and it has all become about money. its not true that the ice caps are melting so the planet is warming such alarming evidence can be misleading even though true. there are glaciers that are infact growing even in the heart of Europe!! In Norway for example
the quality of the debate deminishes when its surrounded by financial interest, like the media show Ice caps breaking off in the Pole each time they report as if Global Warming is happening that very minute or they show nuclear power plants with thick white smoke again misleading the public as if that is CO2. In reality its just steam as a result of the cooling.
it can be solved if the politics is removed. the Ozone problem has been solved.
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Serekundajock
United Kingdom
60 Posts |
Posted - 26 Nov 2007 : 18:19:44
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In general people mostly believe what they are told by governments so if they same its global warming then it will be. They have lots of money to throw at it and pay people to say what they want eg Margret Thatcher and nuclear power think tank.
It maybe true that the Earth is heating up but who can say that it is by our efforts. This maybe something that was going to happen anyway no one but no one can tell.
Do not believe everything that you are spun that is all I am saying.
Governments lie all the time. They are sponsored by big business who are only there to make money.
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turk
USA
3356 Posts |
Posted - 26 Nov 2007 : 21:26:33
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quote:
The UK government are only trying to collect more taxes from us. They are not interested in anything but there own welfare.
quote:
Governments lie all the time. They are sponsored by big business who are only there to make money.
Interesting! Government is collecting more taxes and business is supporting that idea. As environmental policies is a obstacle for business but they are still supporting the idea of costly environmental policies that undermine business? Have you ever taken macro economy 101?
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diaspora! Too many Chiefs and Very Few Indians.
Halifa Salah: PDOIS is however realistic. It is fully aware that the Gambian voters are yet to reach a level of political consciousness that they rely on to vote on the basis of Principles, policies and programmes and practices. |
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