Your Excellency Sir,
Please be informed that the
government's policy is to promote tourism and its contribution to economic
growth. Our objective as a country is to increase the contribution of tourism
to our economy and to raise the living standards of all Gambians.
The Gambia belongs to Gambians
both those home and abroad, therefore through dialogue, reasoning and critical
thinking we can make The Gambia the last place of hope on earth.
Many Gambians depend on the
tourism industry which is referred to as the backbone of the country. The
industry contributes over 20% of our GDP, it offers lucrative employment both
directly and indirectly, it provides much needed foreign exchange earnings and
also contributes towards our yearly balance of payment. This sector has
registered impressive growth of over 4.5 percent on average, thus encouraging
the construction of more hotels and increase in the number of tourist arrivals.
The fact that the tourism
industry is based on several sectors ensures that the development of the
industry leads to huge transfer of development finance from foreign investors
(Foreign Direct Investment). These funds are used to develop local
infrastructure, such as road network s, telecommunication system, water supply
as well as building super structures. This also greatly contributes to the GDP
and generally advances the national economy. Tourism is at the heart of
globalization as demonstrated by the increasing influence of international and
multinational operators in the industry who are capable of moving significant
volumes of investors. These companies engaged in extensive horizontal linkages.
Tourism promotes global understanding,
peace and the sharing of values to both the host and the tourists themselves.
In the Gambia for example, Europeans are married by Gambian and also some make
friends to an extent that a deeper relation leading to assimilation and even
resettlement may occur. This creates an environment of peace where people will
not be discriminated base on the color of their skill or religion, etc. because
of the degree of friendship created through tourism. This in will turn add to
the global peace that we are all wanting for.
The Gambia tourism has
successfully improved and developed but it is still facing some challenges
beyond imagination which have greatly affected the safaris tours with in the
country. These challenges include; Limited marketing due to insufficient
funding as a serious problem facing the tourism industry and it has retarded
many people internationally to know Gambia as a tourist destination hence affecting safari to the smiling coast.
High competition from neighboring
countries like Senegal, Mali and Guinea Bissau. These countries are selling the
same products like The Gambia and this has affected Gambia’s tourism sector
since it’s considered a land locked country and most tourists go to the
neighboring for leisure.
As I write to you this letter
now, the minister responsible for tourism is not in town as he should be on the
ground to work with the relevant stakeholders on how to formulate plans and
strategies that will attract tourist across the globe. Since we are in the tourism season. The
question one might asked will be is China a good market for The Gambia tourism
industry?
However, the industry faces many
challenges and as per the report by the online hotel booking website, these
challenges need careful attention and properly structured solutions in order to
provide good grounds for development.
It is that note I write to your
high office requesting Hamat Bah, The Minister of Tourism to be redeployed To
GTB as a Messenger. As the tourism sector is sinking like the great Titanic. Such
an institution should be led by a person who have the experience, knowledge and
know how to lead not only with words but with actions towards achieving the
mission and vision statement of the noble ministry. The main hindrance to this
is the fact that his limited understanding of the tourism industry is another
major obstacle too.
Your Excellency, please be informed
that there is absolutely no investor who will invest in an industry that has no
previous track record of success or has no clear future. Every business person
or entity will push money where they see viability or an opportunity for growth
and development. This might make it difficult to find a clean pathway of these
places and hence it is demotivating for tourists who may not return or even
recommend the destination to family and friends and love ones.
The last time I checked on the
minister’s expertise on tourism sector he was a mere entertainment manager. How
can an entertainment manager have a fully understanding of the marketing
strategies that can boost the tourism rate?
Part of his duties and
responsibilities shall include but not limited to determine destinations by
referring to addresses on packages and documents, ensure that packages or
messages are delivered in a time efficient manner, ensure that the delivery is
done in a timely manner, reconcile packages at recipient’s location, maintain
records of daily visits in the log book, sort deliverable items in accordance
to delivery route in order to ensure maximum efficiency, and perform general
office or clerical work such as filing materials, operating duplicating
machines, or running errands.
There are very few flights
connecting to The Gambia. And not many of the very few are good enough, or at
least meet international standards. We need to overhaul the entire air
transport system within Gambia, and engender more airlines to fly within the
smiling coast. The number of tourists visiting The Gambia every year runs into Thousands.
Imagine how many more we will record if we can bring in more airlines to convey
many more tourists to various destinations.
Finally, I would like to take
this prospect opportunity to inform you that in order to make The Gambia great,
employment should be based on merit. Therefore always give the job to the jobs
friend but not your friend.
Concern citizen,
Saidina Alieu Jarjou
Blogger/Activist/Watchdog.
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