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Momodou
Denmark
11721 Posts |
 Posted - 12 Apr 2010 : 21:27:32
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Dailynews Editorial: Blisters of Gambian Tourism
Bumsters are people who derive their livelihood from informal dependence on tourism. They mainly constitute youths of all sexes, and offer diverse services to achieve this. Though some of them are legitimate employees of businesses, a majority of them are unemployed and engage in various activities to earn their living. It is amazing that today, despite all the positive contributions they made towards tourism development; they are seen as nothing more than blisters to the sector.
From prostitution to juice pressing, tie and dye (batik) or sculptures, (tourist) taxi drivers, tourist guides, among a host of others, they depend on these activities to make a difference in both their lives and those of others. Hotel employees do not encourage bumsters as they pay their staff to do specific jobs; but on the other hand, tourists book "trips" with some hotel employees to diverse places in diverse businesses. This could also qualify those to be bumsters.
However, one thing that motivates these people into this kind of jobs is the foreign exchange they earn for their services... using it to support families and other dependents. In reality, it is these bumsters who are making tourism relevant to Gambian communities. All informal businesses that derive some income from tourism are due to bumsters. Although hotels will pay taxes to government and provide job opportunities, higher percentage of their yearly profits are kept to themselves. In a situation where a majority of hotel owners are foreign nationals that invest in the sector, all the profits are siphoned out of the country.
Families of these bumsters eventually become dependent on tourist seasons as a result, and many youths use it to travel overseas (Promised Land it's called). Some even inter-marry with these tourists and end up traveling and living abroad. They mainly support families while others end up operating businesses like hotels, import/export trade, etc. They also sponsor school children, build or run schools.
One thing that government needs to appreciate about bumsters is that there is a section of tourists coming to the country that really want a taste of Gambian hospitality, cultures, etc, many of them only come here because they want to "mingle" with locals. This might be contrary to the business interests of hotel owners who will prefer tourists to spend all their monies in the hotel. It would not be surprising that they are apprehensive of the presence of bumsters in the sector since bumsters will take tourists to the common people and allow them to spend money on businesses and other needs.
Secondly, bumsters are diverse: there are those that operate legitimately without hassling or stealing from tourists while there are others who will just do the opposite. Those are the ones that constitute trouble for the rest. Again, these kinds of people are found in every country – it will be wrong to categorize all bumsters under this. There are legitimate bumsters who will never steal from tourists, but will rather provide a given service at a cost for tourists.
The last time, The Daily News caught up with a Gambian girl and her European boyfriend, approached them for an interview on something related to this topic. Though she voluntarily spoke to us, but she wouldn’t let her photograph be taken. She was nude as nude itself, bathing on the beach with her partner freely. When asked why, she said her father is a deputy imam of a certain settlement here in the Gambia, and as such, "he would kill me when he sees me in the papers".
Take the Gambian girls and young ladies for example; how many have become prostitutes as a result of tourism? To be sure about this, go out at night around 11 O’ Clock pm to midnight around the Tourism Development Area and you will be amazed at what you will see. Some visitors will even be surprised that such activities are taking place in this country!
Source: Dailynews
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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snuggels
960 Posts |
Posted - 19 Apr 2010 : 13:15:33
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| Interesting. I truly belive that to much has been laid at the bumsters feet for the the woes in the travel industry in Gambia |
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toubab1020
12311 Posts |
Posted - 19 Apr 2010 : 16:13:37
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THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH "juice pressing, tie and dye (batik) or sculptures, (tourist) taxi drivers, tourist guides, among a host of others, they depend on these activities to make a difference in both their lives and those of others." thats all fine as these people are NOT bumsters they are small businesses,Bumsters are those who hang around the gates of the hotels and hassle tourists when they attempt to leave the hotel,making the tourist feel unsafe and reenforcing the speech made by the pick up escort on the coach to take tourists to their hotels,the hotel operators are obviously very happy with this state of affairs because they can sell their tours of local places of interest at vastly inflated prices,a trip to Albert Market Banjul,costs shed loads of money ,you can do the same trip yourself for a very few Dalasi,thats rip off.There is also the inbuilt perception that tourists are all millionares and the general question "give me some money" even by toddlers of 2 years old! ,if you question this after you have said NO then the response is Why not? there is no recognition at all that you have worked and saved YOUR money to go on holiday at all.Explainations are not understood.
On the topic that I have not dealt with contained in the article namely, "Take the Gambian girls and young ladies for example; how many have become prostitutes as a result of tourism? To be sure about this, go out at night around 11 O’ Clock pm to midnight around the Tourism Development Area and you will be amazed at what you will see. Some visitors will even be surprised that such activities are taking place in this country"
This should not be condoned BUT if you have NOTHING you will try ANYTHING to make you life and the lives of you family better. |
"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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Edited by - toubab1020 on 19 Apr 2010 16:17:01 |
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