Geographical Review of Japan Vol. 74 (Ser. B), No. 1, 62-77, 2001

Impacts of Coastal Development and Sustainability: A Geographical Case Study of Sali in the Senegalese Petite Cote

Abdou Khadre DIAGNE Ph. D. candidate, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Chiba University, Chiba 263-8522, Japan

Abstract: Since the 1970s, tourism development in the Senegalese Petite Cote has rapidly expanded, with diverse impacts in a number of spheres. The human and physical geography of the Petite Cote and its ecosystems are being powerfully shaped by the new entrepreneurial activity. What changes, positive and negative, has tourism brought along the coastline? How can locals be better integrated into the tourism sector? How can sustainable tourism develop ment be effectively promoted here? To assess the impacts of coastal tourism, questionnaire surveys were conducted in 1999 and 2001 in three focal areas for tourism in Sali resort. The surveys indicate that tourism has significantly modified traditional social structure and spawned an array of new social ills, such as prostitution and theft. The tourism boom has transformed many villages into satellites for cheap menial labor. The present investigation can be usefully viewed as a concrete case study of unsustainable tourism development. Despite the fast pace of tourism expansion, it is still oriented largely to maximizing returns, with the evident exclusion of most of the local population. Numerous tourism-related pollutants now plague the environment of traditional villages. It is argued that locals should be better integrated into the tourism process and pollution must be dealt with by rigorous new measures with an aim to promoting more sustainable development in harmony with the local economy and ecology. In particular, necessary skill levels among locals must be upgraded; concomi tantly, traditional activities can be reinforced within an eco-tourism framework geared to attracting more tourists interested in an alternative type of holiday experience.

Key words: tourism, social impacts, economic impacts, environmental degradation, Petite Cote, sustainable (coastal) tourism development

investment regulations in June 1972, tourism Introduction has been singled out by the government as a key priority in social and economic develop , like many other ex-colonial develop ment planning. ing countries faced with the problem of worsen In 1975, the authorities set up a special com ing trade terms for agricultural products, has pany, SAPCO (Societe d'Amenagement et de Pro turned in recent decades to tourism as a possi motion de la Petite Cote) to develop tourism as ble alternative source of growth. Resources the major revenue source for reducing the inter have been utilized to upgrade the local trans national balance of payments deficits. SAPCO's portation infrastructure and construct hotels functions range from basic planning to the con designed to attract the burgeoning interna struction of infrastructure indispensable for tional coastal tourism market and its growing tourism development, such as roads, electricity, demands for "sun and sea." Over the past 30 water supply, telephone lines, etc. The number years, tourism has evolved into the chief eco of tourist arrivals has soared in recent years, nomic activity in the country, contributing nearly quadrupling from 90,000 in 1995 to more foreign currency than traditional primary 350,000 in 1998 (Ndaw 1999). According to commodity exports. Since the introduction of projections of the Ministry for Tourism and new legislation on tourism in October 1971 and Surface Transportation, between 1 and 1.5mil Impacts of Coastal Tourism 63 lion tourists are anticipated by the year 2005. ment. It is suggested that strategic planning In 1999, foreign currency revenue from tourism measures must be devised to meet the swiftly rose to more than US$ 143million (100 billion growing demand for tourist complexes while CFA Franc). taking into due account the long-term preserva Expanding coastal tourism has spurred gov tion of heritage and natural resources. At the ernment agencies and private entrepreneurs to same time, it is necessary to grapple with the seek more beachfront land for development. negative impacts associated with mounting en The Petite Cote between and Joal is espe vironmental, economic and social pressures cially well-suited for such projects and has ex (Harry and Parpairis 1995). perienced an upsurge in coastal tourism. The Previous studies boom in tourism also holds out attractive op tions for independent indigenous enterprise in In the Petite Cote, most investigations to date handicrafts, entertainment, and transportation. have examined social and economic dimen It likewise provides a key source of wages for sions, focusing largely on positive impacts in a workers in hotels and financing infrastructure period when tourism was in its infancy. These and equipment. investigations aimed at charting growth and Yet tourism development in the Petite Cote making projections for the subsequent 5-10 also has its downsides, such as new patterns of years of tourist development (Ciss 1983, Diop destructive changes in land use. Leisure facili 1986, Diouf 1987). This paper represents a first ties have been developed at the direct expense attempt to assess negative impacts and recom of agricultural cultivation. Traditional fishing, mend proposals for more sustainable develop formerly the primary local livelihood, is now at ment in the Petite Cote. Its findings may reflect the point of collapse due to the impact of hotel analogous problems elsewhere as coastal tour construction on the beaches, the narrowing of ism expands in the developing world, especially the beach landing and the prohibition of tradi in West Africa. The proposals for change and tional activities. Other physical resources such sustainable development outlined below are as unspoiled beaches have been severely de thus potentially applicable more broadly. pleted as tourism expands. International tour Previous studies on coastal tourism have ism has also impacted on traditional social tended to focus on impacts occurring on Carib structures, generating a host of new social prob bean and Pacific islands, and are generally lems such as an upsurge in crime and a break shaped by a geomorphologic perspective down of traditional Islamic codes of behavior. (Wong 1993). Elsewhere in West Africa, uncon Another undesirable byproduct has been the trolled tourist development on the barrier com trivialization of traditional culture, like com plex in Nigeria has adversely impacted on the mercialization of indigenous artistic crafts to coastal environment, causing coastal erosion, cater to the tastes of the tourist marketplace. flooding, deforestation and intrusion of salt The present research explores several interre water (Awosika and Ibe 1993:120). In addition, lated questions in a small but significant area in the proliferation of buildings along the coast coastal West Africa in Senegal, centering on a has created an excessive population density. case study of Sali resort. What changes, posi Population pressure inevitably leads to ecologi tive and negative, has tourism brought along cal imbalance, disfiguration of the coastline, the coastline? Do local residents derive con and a reduction in the attractiveness of the crete benefits from tourism? How can locals be resource (Mathieson and Wall 1982:113). In the better integrated into the tourism sector? In western Ivory Coast, several luxury tourist what ways can sustainable tourism develop complexes are now being developed, and sea ment be effectively promoted here? Using data side resorts are highly popular. The resultant from 382 questionnaires brought by field sur high coastal concentration has generated seri veys in 1999 and 2001, patterns and problems ous beach pollution, particularly along the are identified and proposals made for channel shore from Abidjan to Grand-Bassam. How ing future growth towards sustainable develop ever, studies on coastal erosion in the Ivory 64 A. K. Diagne

Coast showed that construction should be pro examined changes in types of employment, hibited in the coastal zone (Abe and Afrian along with 'deskilling' of the traditional skilled 1993:106). In France, due to the impact of works and the concomitant decline of tradi seawalls, many well-known resorts, such as la tional activities such as subsistence agriculture Baule (Loire-Atlantique), Arcachon (Gironde) and traditional fishing. Social changes in life and Saint-Jean de Luz (Pyrenees Atlantiques), style, spatial displacement of some villages, and have sustained losses along their beaches and the precipitous decline in moral standards were beach erosion (Miossec 1993:173). The present also explored, along with dimensions such as paper, the first of its kind on tourism and its ecological deterioration as a result of improper diverse impacts in coastal Senegal, suggests liquid and solid waste management. In sum, the avenues for more sustainable tourism develop purpose of the present study is to reveal clearly ment. economic, social and environmental impacts of tourism on local communities in Sali resort on What is sustainability? the Petite Cote. Hunter and Green (1995) advocated that sus The organization of the paper is as follows. tainable development constitutes an important After starting with this introductory section, a key element for the management of tourism detailed description of the Petite Cote and the which integrates concern for natural, built and driving forces behind tourism development is cultural environments with continued eco reviewed. In the following sections, the process nomic development, so as to embrace all 'qual of regional changes and specific character of ity of life' issues, at the destination area and Sali resort are exhaustively explained. Then, beyond. Sustainable development is defined by the obtained results are presented. After that, the World Commission on Environment and prospects for sustainability in the study area Development (1987: 43) as development that are examined. Finally, the major findings are meets the needs of the present without compro summarized in the conclusion. mising the ability of future generations to meet The Study Area and Principal Factors their own needs. Regarding tourism, sustain Behind Tourism Development ability has become the organizing concept for the policy in the 1990s, a concept which has General description of the study area demonstrable advantages for the tourism sec tor as a whole (De Kadt 1992). The World Location, accessibility and physical charac Conference on Sustainable Tourism (Lanzarote teristics The tourist area in the Petite Cote 1995) has recommended that tourism develop extends some 110km, from south of Bargny to ment should be based on clear criteria of sus the pointe de Sangomar, along a coastal strip 5-7 tainability: It must be ecologically tolerable km deep (Figures 1 and 2). The Petite Cote over the long term, economically viable, and comprises 660km2, 0.3% of the total land mass ethically and socially equitable for local com of Senegal. The Petite Cote is the largest sea munities. These criteria are applied in sugges side resort area in close proximity to the capital tions below on promoting sustainable tourism Dakar, less than one hour away by car and development along the Senegalese coast. easily accessible. The high accessibility from the capital to the Petite Cote is especially favor Methodology of the present study able for tourism development. The physiogra Some 382 questionnaires derived from tour phy of the area is marked by white sandy ists, hotel staff and management, shop owners beaches, with scattered hills in the north and and local residents in Sali resort and the nearby swamps in the south (Figure 2). The beach is villages in January of 1999 and January of 2001 composed of a large variety of sand and gravel, provide data for a broad empirically-based and fine sand predominates. Most of the vil analysis of selected specific social, economic lages and hotels are constructed in or near the and environmental effects resulting from tour sandy areas. The mean elevation of the coast ism growth in the Petite Cote. The research line in the north is 50 to 90 meters, offering an Impacts of Coastal Tourism 65

excellent vantage for panoramic views of the meter at high tide. The annual average coastal sea, while elevation in the south averages one rainfall ranges between 600-800mm. Precipi tation is strongly seasonal, with 90% falling be tween June and August. Temperatures range

from 17 to 28•Ž, attracting numerous tourists to the warm climate. Mild temperatures and ample sunshine characterize the tourist season, which runs from December to April. Economic activities in the Petite Cote Be fore the advent of tourism, local residents used to engage in fishing for some nine months of the year, ceasing activities during the rainy season (June to August). In general, men catch the fish, while women process and preserve the fish. More recently, some fishermen have shifted from traditional fishing to more indus trialized modes of fishery, particularly in vil

Figure 1. Location of the Petite Cote in lages such as Sali, Guerew and Niangal. Senegal. Subsistence agriculture was previously a ma

Figure 2. Physical characteristics of the Petite Cote. 66 A. K. Diagne jor source of livelihood for coastal inhabitants, million CFA Franc) or create at least 50 perma second in importance only after fishing. During nent jobs for the Senegalese population during the three months of the rainy season, the popu the first five years; there are also various import lation cultivated millet, groundnuts, rice, vege duty and tax exemptions and reduced rates for tables, and fruits. Today agriculture and fish utilities. A closer look at this investment code ing are separated; women, a certain number of suggests that the Senegalese government was young people and retired fishermen work in only interested in enhancing economic benefit. agriculture, while adult males are primarily em Given these incentive measures, tourism devel ployed in the fishing sector. These two sources oped rapidly in the Petite Cote, resulting in of livelihood, often in the same family, have led numerous changes. What is the process of the to a relatively high standard of living among regional changes arisen from coastal tourism the coastal population compared with inhabi development? tants in the interior (Ciss 1989). In consequence The Process of Regional Changes and the it is important to look at the principal factors Specific Character of Sali Resort explaining the rapid development of coastal tourism in the Petite Cote. The process of regional changes Principal factor behind tourism development The development of international tourism Due to the lack of a national tourism develop Over the past 20 years, the Senegalese coastline ment plan, tourism in Senegal prior to the 1970s has gradually begun to attract international expanded chaotically. In order to avoid disor tourism. Within the past decade, facilities have dered development and to organize the tourism spread all along the shoreline as far as the sector along more systematic lines, the Senegal northern Petite Cote. The principal factors ese government, with the help of the World driving this rapid expansion are the high intrin Bank, drafted the Regional Tourist Develop sic touristic value of the area, which boasts ment Plan covering three regions (the wide beaches, warm temperatures, constant , the Fleuve, and the Petite Cote). sunshine, tropical vegetation (luxuriant African The Tourist Development Plan of 1972 aimed bush and baobab forest) and a number of ethnic at identifying the tourist potential of the Petite groups, coupled with the low density of local Cote. Unfortunately, this plan gave little atten occupation (villages are 6km apart). Attract tion to the human, economic and physical di ing 282,000 tourists in 1996, Senegal ranked mensions. Additionally, in 1975 the Senegalese the third most visited country in West Africa government created SAPCO to promote tour behind Nigeria (822,000) and Ghana (305,000) ism more systematically and coordinate this (WTO 1995, 1998). With a total of 340,000 huge project. To achieve its ends, SAPCO en visitors in 1999, tourism generated about US$ couraged private investment in tourism. Simul 143 million (100 billion CFA Franc), climbing to taneously, the government stimulated con the second most important economic sector in struction of facilities for international tourism Senegal after fishing. Europeans accounted for by providing cheap land and low-interest loans. 95% of the international tourists in 1999 (over The government also attempted to spur devel 50% from France, 15% from Germany). The opment through financial incentives such as large number of French tourists can be ex depreciation allowances on tourism accommo plained by the legacy of close historical ties dation and infrastructure. between the two countries (Senegal was a A special investment code (Law 72-43, 12 French colony until 1960) and the fact that June 1972) was created to facilitate economic French is widely spoken in Senegal. More than decentralization and promote regional develop 60% of the total number of international tour ment. This investment code enables the gov ists to Senegal are concentrated in the Petite ernment to offer potential investors an array of Cote area, particularly in Sali resort. incentives. To qualify for advantages, invest The process of changes in Sali The devel ment programs should exceed US$ 143,000 (100 opment of tourism in Sali had its beginnings in Impacts of Coastal Tourism 67 the late 1970s, but gained significant momen fists despite the closing of the Novotel Hotel. tum starting in the early 1980s, when the state The rise in the number of tourists in 1994 may allocated 600 ha to SAPCO for the promotion of be attributable to the devaluation in the Sene international tourism. In 1984, four large hotels galese currency. From 1988 to 1999, the total (Novotel, Savana Koumba, Saly Hotel and Palm number of tourists more than doubled (soaring Beach) were constructed. The subsequent by 232% from 40,226 to 93,356). At the same boom in hotel construction began in the early time, the number of hotel establishments in Sali 1990s. In 1994, with the devaluation of the resort increased from seven in 1988 to eleven in Senegalese currency, developers started pro 1999, likewise the result of an influx of foreign moting a new type of accommodation based on investors, particularly from France. resident facilities for longer-term stay. This The development of international tourism in shift could be explained by the fact that resi the rural area of Sali has had a serious deleteri dences for long-term stay are far easier to man ous impact on traditional economic activities age than hotels. Today this type of facility is such as agriculture and fishing. Figure 4 shows widespread throughout the resort area, particu the mounting reduction in agricultural lands larly in North Sali. The first of such facilities for the benefit of tourism accommodations. emerged in Safari village, the Residences du Figure 4 also indicates major changes in the port, Residences Teranga, and les cristallines. pattern of traditional land use, now dominated Residences for longer-term stay are based on by an expanding tourism hungry for space. the building of private villas for sale to tourists, Most of the grassland and shrubbery areas have mainly French, who wish to retire and live in also been encroached upon by the spread of Senegal. Prices of a villa range from about US tourism. South Sali is now densely occupied by $ 43,000 to 57,000 (30 to 40 million CFA Franc) tourist facilities and only few vacant areas re for the lowest-cost type of home. Figure 3 main in North Sali. Sali (known as the COte shows the rapid development of tourism. Fig d'Azure Tropicale) is today covered by an array ure 3 also indicates that the number of tourists of diverse facilities and infrastructure for do declined sharply in Sali resort area due to the mestic and foreign accommodations, ranging closing of the Royam Sali Hotel in 1993. Politi from antique shops, cheap restaurants and bars cal unrest was another factor affecting the total to first-class luxury hotels. Sali currently has a number of tourists in 1993. In 1994, there was total capacity of 2,384 beds and 1,094 rooms a steady increase in the total numbers of tour (SAPCO 1998), and also plans to have a capacity of 3,000 beds by the end of the project. The specificity of Sali is another important element explaining the rapid development of coastal tourism.

Specific character of Sail seaside resort

The Sali tourist resort represents a special type of tropical beach resort serving most tour ist needs, from accommodation to leisure and recreation. Resort developments offer golf, sail ing or horse riding, holiday residences for long stays, bungalows or apartments. Having only ten in 1984, the coastline today is home to more than thirty international class hotels. Sali re Figure 3. Evolution of tourists in Sali resort, sort represents in fact a kind of 'tourist enclave' 1988-1999. cut off from the surrounding villages. Holiday Sources: Ministere du Tourisme et des facilities are clearly adapted to the physical Transports Aeriens, 2000. Note explica tive sur les Statistiques du Tourisme au features of the coastal beach environment. Due niveau de la Petite cote (1988-1999). to the inherent fragility of this environment, 68 A. K. Diagne

Figure 4. Land use change in Sail (1980-2000). Sources: Carte (IGN) de Thies au 1/50.000 (1989) supplemented by author's field survey (2001). much of the impact of tourism on the coast has nagement Touristique-Tourist Sector) have been negative, resulting in serious ecological been set up: in north and south Sali. South Sali damage (see section on environmental impacts). has more than ten hotels, while North Sali is The bungalow style is the most prevalent in dominated by holiday residences for long-term the Sali resort complex, located preferably near stays. These two UATs are integrated with the beach. The bungalow style aims to offer other business establishments catering to typi visitors the chance to retreat from the outside cal tourist needs, such as shops, restaurants, world into a more local yet modern and 'exotic' cafes and teahouses (Figure 5). habitat in which to relax from urban pressures. The Sali resort area contains six scattered Hotels in Sali are medium-size with a maximum traditional villages: Sali Poste, Sali Tape, Sali capacity of 250 beds. Two UATs (Unite d'Ame Niakhniakhal, Sali Bambara (or Sail Niagnaral), Impacts of Coastal Tourism 69

Figure 5. Distribution of tourist accommodations in Sali resort (1999). Sources: Data from Senegalese Ministry for Tourism and Surface Transportation (2000) supplemented by author's field survey.

Sali Joseph, and Sali Velingara. In recent years, recognize that there is a paucity of detailed traditional villages have been forced to con empirical studies on tourism and employment front the problem of intruding modernization (Mathieson and Wall 1982: 79). This reflects a arising from the influx of affluent foreigners major empirical obstacle in the economic geog who have begun to construct luxury vacation raphy of tourism in West Africa: how can inves homes. How has this new spatial reorganiza tigators gather accurate empirical data on em tion affected the traditional villages? ployment in hotels and other facilities, when Western hotel owners and managers refuse to Tourism Impacts on the Petite Cote divulge data on employment, turnover and Region profit? In the absence of such economic data sup Economy plied by hospitality industry management, find Concentration of tourist accommodations has ings of the 1999 and 2001 surveys on tourism caused a range of diverse impacts to the econ development impacts in the Petite Cote shed omy. There are no reliable figures for tourism useful light on various aspects of employment employment in Sali resort. This is due primar and other dimensions. Some 382 tourists, hotel ily to two factors: (1) data are often inaccurate, managers, hotel workers and local residents re and hotel managers are generally reluctant to sponded to the questionnaires. The question reveal figures on the number and wages of em naire consisted of four main sections: personal, ployees; (2) it is difficult to determine the social, economic and environmental data. The broader scope of spin-off economic benefits de results of questionnaire surveys can be summa rived from tourism as part of total revenue in rized as follows: the economy. In this connection, one must Employment in hotels Because the tourist 70 A. K. Diagne

industry is highly labor-intensive, most new on hotel staffs; those employed tend to work at jobs in Sali resort have been created in hotels menial jobs. According to fieldwork findings, and other accommodation services. Table 1 54% of local residents interviewed have only a indicates that the major sources for new jobs primary school education and many villagers have been the large hotels, principally Palm are illiterate. For example, local males are usu Beach (4-star), Filaos (3-star) and Savana ally hired for cleaning, garden irrigation and as Kumba (4-star). Basic staff and seasonal em security guards, while women are engaged as ployees represent the largest proportion of low-paid chambermaids. staff, accounting for 65.5% of the total hotel Table 4 presents an overview of categories of jobs. Table 2 indicates that expatriates are low-skilled jobs offered to locals. The cooking concentrated in the best-paying positions, earn sector and bars recruit the largest number. Sig ing significantly more than Senegalese nation nificantly, 80% of these jobs in hotels are sea als. Menial and day laborers make up the larg sonal, contractual or part-time. Employment est segment of Senegalese employees. patterning in Sali resort can thus be seen as a Significantly, most employees in hotels in clear manifestation of the 'menializing' of an Sail resort stem from areas outside Sail, such as unskilled working population drawn from rural Mbour, Dakar, Thies, Casamance, Fatick, etc. villages. (Table 3). Due to their low level of formal Only few jobs are well-paid and or hold out education, there are relatively few Sali villagers longer-term options for career development.

Table 1. The number of jobs in Sail resort (hotels only)

Source: Author's survey (1999).

Table 2. Monthly salaries (in CFA Franc) of employees in Sail hotel

Note: l USD=approximately 700 CFA Franc Source: Accounts department, Sali hotel (1999). Impacts of Coastal Tourism 71

Table 3. Characteristics of some hotel employees in Sali resorts

Source: Author's survey (2001).

Table 4. Types of jobs offered to local residents modernize their traditional economic activities. in Sali, Savana and Espadon hotels Handicrafts and retailing In West Africa, particularly Senegal, tourists seek a broad range of goods and services such as souvenirs, clothing, cosmetics, jewelry, meals, etc. Em ployment as craftsmen gives another channel for locals to participate in the tourist industry. Local residents or indigenous entrepreneurs can take part in the tourism-generated econ omy by the manufacture and sale of handi crafts, the provision of local transport, etc. It is Source: Author's survey (1999). extremely difficult to determine the amount of individual income generated because workers Owing to the growth of illegal employment, it is are not paid monthly wages, but depend upon difficult to determine accurate data on em the daily sale of their goods and services. ployed staff for some hotel complexes. Many of Traditional handicrafts are now increasingly those employed are overworked, often putting oriented towards production for tourist mar in over 20 hours a day on the job. Most do not kets. Objects in large quantities are virtually enjoy benefits such as holidays, medical insur mass-produced. In a bid to turn a quick profit, ance coverage, reimbursement of transporta handicrafts have been distorted and commer tion costs and subsidized housing. Rather, the cialized in both methods and material. Despite majority of workers regard their income as sea its 'commodification' and 'artificialization,' such sonal, a source of savings for the future or for commercialized art is developing at a rapid small improvements in traditional lifestyle ac pace. Specialists in leatherwork, wood carvers, tivities. Yet because the available part-time or tailors and jewelers are on the increase and are seasonal work in tourism is only in the lowest profiting from the expanding tourist industry. paying categories, few young villagers have All their articles are targeted for the tourist any prospect of saving up enough to effectively trade. Traditional artisans can easily take in 72 A. K. Diagne more than US$15 (10,000 CFA Franc) a day regarded as a main income source, and is now during the peak season, which is several times less important than fishing. Before the tourism higher than the daily wages of most low-skilled boom, local subsistence farmers cultivated pea hotel personnel (see Figure 6). nuts and cereals, particularly millet. Many Of the 25 different shops investigated during farmers from Sali Tape have lost their agricul fieldwork in 1999 and 2001 in Sali resort, 22 tural fields and today have little land left for were established between 1991 and 1998. The farming. Due to leisure facilities development, number of new shops is increasing. Most are agricultural lands are reducing engendering a owned by Senegalese merchants (often from remarkable decline of the agricultural produc outside the area) who sell a wide range of sou tion. The resulting annual loss to farmers is venirs for tourists; only five shops have foreign some 600 kilograms of millet per household. proprietors. Because of their high prices, these This situation has been worsened by a continu shops are normally frequented solely by the ing drought, and has led to a virtual paralysis in tourist trade. subsistence produce. Today, annual agricul Development of transport Provision of tural production for a family has plummeted transport to tourists is another income source from 1000 kilograms per household to less than outside the hotel and handicraft sectors. Public half (400 kilograms). Yet SAPCO to date has transporters link Mbour, the main city, to the not undertaken any measures to reinforce the rest of the touristic areas. In Sali resort, for traditional agricultural sector. Traditional agri example, during the peak season public trans culture, formerly one of the main local liveli port carriers can go back and forth between hoods, is now at the point of collapse due to the Sali resort and Mbour some ten times a day, impact of hotel proliferation on the local coastal with daily earnings averaging about US$22 environment. Table 5 indicates that tourism is (15,000 CFA Franc). Such transport services becoming the first preferred sector for employ are rapidly expanding with the increasing num ment for local residents, particularly the ber of tourists. Locals thus benefit very directly younger generation. However, some locals con from the provision of transportation services. tinue to practice fishing (in Sali Tape and Sali Agriculture Agriculture, once the principal Poste) and agriculture (in Sali Velingara and traditional activity in the Petite Cote, has been Sali Joseph), still their principal source of reve severely disrupted in the wake of tourism. In nue. 1977, land expropriation had serious adverse Impacts on the fishing sector In the Petite consequences for the agricultural sector. Over Cote, particularly in Sali, fishermen make up the past two decades, agriculture has been less the vast majority of the population. Sali Poste, Sali Niakhniakhal and Sali Tape have the high est numbers, accounting for over 70% of the active population. Because of the impact of tourism, their beach landing is narrowing, and is in effect now cut off by the encroaching recreational beach. As a result, most traditional fishermen prefer to work as boat captains in the modern fishing sector. They can earn better wages than in declining traditional modes. To day, local Sali residents are prohibited from engaging in traditional fishery practices, such as drying and smoking fish on the beach, since Figure 6. Daily expenditure by tourists on these activities are considered a potential nui handicrafts during the peak season sance to tourists. The resettlement of local in Sali. residents, formerly fishermen families, has Note: 1 USD=approximately 700 CFA Franc worsened the problem of beach access, because Source: Author's survey (2001). after relocation inland most now do not have Impacts of Coastal Tourism 73

Table 5. Activities of local residents in Sali village

Source: Author's survey (2001). ready access to the sea. Table 6. Positive impacts of tourism according Land speculation and price-gouging Tour to local residents of Sali ism is also driving up the price for land in traditional villages, leading to real estate specu lation. Recently, many European tourists have begun to purchase property to construct luxury vacation homes in traditional villages located in Sali (particularly in Sali Niakhniakhal vil lage). The growth in foreign-owned real estate is part of a broader ongoing change in land use and ownership patterns as foreign capital flows into the villages. Such growth increases compe Source: Author's survey (1999). tition for land, driving up property prices, and ultimately leads to fragmentation of land hold ings. One group hard hit by this phenomenon is ing of a green area with some 150,000 trees. local youths: they are finding it ever more These improvements, at a cost of approxi difficult to obtain land for cultivation or house mately US$3,600 million (2.5 billion CFA construction in their own areas. In addition, Franc), are a positive spin-off of the influx of prices for many goods and services in tradi European tourism and capital (SAPCO 1998). tional villages surge during the tourist season, In addition 26.8% of Sali local residents advo sometimes doubling in comparison with off cate that tourism has improved the local equip season prices. ment and infrastructures (Table 6). Other sig Inf rastructural improvement in Sali as a nificant impacts of tourism development in Sali result of tourism development In contrast were those on the traditional life. with the lack of more modern infrastructure in Traditional social life Bali's traditional villages, tourism development in the Petite Cote has made a positive contribu Tourism's multiple social impacts often in tion to infrastructure in Sali resort. SAPCO has volve changes in collective and individual introduced an array of improvements, such as value systems, behavior patterns, community (1) construction of 10 kilometers of road, link structures, lifestyles and the quality of life (Hall ing Sali to its surroundings; (2) the water sup and Page 1999). Here too, tourism has had a ply has been assured with a water tank 250 profound impact on the nature of local society meter deep located in Mbour, and a water tower in the Petite Cote, particularly in the traditional 2000m3/day in Sali; (3) the telephone network villages. The tourist boom has been responsible has been vastly upgraded; (4) construction of a for a steep rise in prostitution, triggering the treatment plant for liquid waste; and (5) plant spread of sexual diseases and dangerous vi 74 A. K. Diagne

ruses such as HIV. Sex tourism is rampant, traditional villages, it not unusual today to en resulting in the spread of STD (Sexually Trans counter tourists in various states of undress, mitted Diseases) and AIDS (Harrison 1995). kissing and hugging everywhere as they Tourists, the main clients for the 'skin trade' in openly flout social and religious codes. To com their enclaves, sometimes interact with hookers pound matters, tourism has eroded the deeper directly on the beach. The health authorities meaning of traditional dances, which today are indicate that there are currently some 500 pros often commercialized in the form of gala con titutes officially registered in Mbour; 26% are certs and 'folklore shows' organized by hotel under the age of 25. A new type of male prosti managers as evening 'native entertainment.' tution is likewise now on the rise in Sali resort, How does the rapid tourism development affect particularly within the group of tourist guides the coastal environment of the Petite Cote? who specialize in dealing with male tourists or Environment older female tourists. Tourist areas in the Petite Cote are witnesses The spiral of development along the coastline of rapid decline in personal security, especially has spurred an excessive population growth during peak season. Nowadays, resort areas are that is overburdening coastal capacities. The plagued by incidents of theft and mugging. In population increase has aggravated the amount general, offenders are not locals. The mounting of waste and sewage. Due to the absence of insecurity has been worsened by the use of adequate garbage and sewage disposal systems, hard drugs among the young. Recently, a spe pollution has worsened. Unless action is taken cial gendarmerie has been set up for tourist soon to encounter and remedy the trend, the protection. coast could in future be reduced to a narrow Tourism has profoundly altered the social strip of polluted beach unattractive to foreign structures of traditional villages catering for tourists and dangerous for the health of local incoming tourists. Before the development of inhabitants. tourism, political and economic power lay At present, there is no proper treatment sys firmly in the hands of male elders, who enjoyed tem for sewage. Unfortunately, due to the in a dominant position in the society. Now young sufficient number of refuse bins, some local resi entrepreneurs with independent sources of in dents are dumping waste directly into the come have taken over as the main decision ocean (Table 8). This may cause a potential makers in the traditional villages. This health hazard for tourists because of the intro younger generation often fails to show the duction of pathogenic elements into the sea. To proper respect for elders and refuses to adhere help to solve garbage problems, villagers have to time-honored tradition and Islamic rules. started to pick up domestic garbage by truck Nowadays marriages between young locals every other day at nominal cost for each house (often females) and old foreign male tourists hold. Despite this new system, many families or young males and old foreign women have become a new vogue. More and more impov Table 7. Negative social impacts according to erished families are in effect `selling off' their local residents of Sali daughters to wed prosperous foreigners. Many young locals are also heavily involved in the use and abuse of alcohol and illegal drugs. Tourism abets the intrusion of Western val ues in traditional areas, where young people imitate not only Western styles of dress but also the more `liberal' comportment and life styles of European visitors. One consequence is that Islamic codes and traditional customs are deliberately flouted (see Table 7). Nude bathing (previously taboo) is now quite common. In Source: Author's survey (1999). Impacts of Coastal Tourism 75

Table 8. Place where local residents of Sali herds. Many foreign visitors are inclined to try throw their garbage to talk to anyone involved in an intriguing or photogenic activity. Accordingly, arrange ments can be made to instruct interested tour ists in traditional agricultural methods (a kind of `gardening tourism') they can utilize when they return home to Europe. Since the Petite Cote is famous for its market gardening, tour ists can enjoy participating in its activities while increasing their direct contact with the Source: Author's survey (1999). natural environment. The Petite Cote is also one of the major fishing areas in Senegal. One continue to discard their garbage into the ocean intriguing option is to create opportunities for (16% of houses in Sail village), resulting in eco tourists to take part in traditional fishing. For logical damage through seawater pollution. example, tourists could go out to sea for a day In sum, the analysis of tourism impacts with local fishermen in traditional canoes in a clearly indicates the absence of sustainable de form of modified 'fishing tourism.' Both garden velopment in the Petite Cote. The physical ing and fishing can attract tourists looking for environment is being degraded by tourism de alternative forms of ecotourism in West Africa. velopment through significantly increased Village hospitality amounts of garbage and an inefficient sewage system. Traditional values are being eroded Sali local residents can also accommodate and destroyed by the invasion of foreign val visitors within their families. Tourists could ues. Nonetheless, negative impacts on the envi share a room with a host family. Tourists ronment, traditional economy and culture far would pay a small fee to be guided around the outweigh this tangible upgrading in infrastruc village in order to understand better the history ture. As a result more sustainable tourism de and the traditional way of life of the villagers. velopment is required in the Petite Cote. This kind of tourism is very successful in Finca Sonador (southern Costa Rica), where they offer How is Sustainable Tourism horse riding to tourists along with guided tours Implemented? (Mowforth and Munt 1998). SAPCO can assist villages in Sali in con Ecotourism structing traditional-style guesthouses to ac Ecotourism in Sali can be defined as a kind of commodate tourists for brief stays rather than tourism for study and enjoyment of nature and promoting hotel construction. SAPCO can also the local culture. Nowadays tourists desire to lend a hand in actively promoting alternative participate in and enjoy recreation and sports types of ecotourism involving Sali local resi activities as well as to understand the area that dents. Such forms of tourism could lead to a they are visiting. In this context, Akis et al revival of local skills and cultural and tradi (1996) revealed that old attitudes are dying tional activities. It can also strengthen local hard with at least some tour operators, thus pride and self-confidence while benefiting the more emphasis is now placed on niche market local economy. ing of destinations offering more than just a Alternative touristic options sandy beach, warm seas and cloudless skies. Consequently, interactions between visitors In traditional handicrafts, tourists in Sali and local residents constitute the main element could spend an intensive day in a workshop of such alternative tourism. In this view, tour observing how objects are produced and meet ists actually enjoy meeting and interacting with craftsmen, learning about how they work with local shopkeepers and restaurant employ rather than only purchasing African souvenirs ees, and increasingly with farmers and shep as objects in shops. Other traditional arts, espe 76 A. K. Diagne daily music (song and instrumental), dance and ated with tourism and their role in generating even cooking could also be introduced to inter and remedying eventual problems. New ideas ested tourists and taught in small groups or on on alternative new forms of tourism, targeting an individual basis. One-day eco-tours on foot specific market niches could thus be generated. of Sali, planned by experts with local guides, Environmental awareness could bring tourists into direct contact with characteristic flora and fauna. More and more Finally, since the reason tourism was origi tourists are looking for an alternative experi nally drawn to the superb natural environment ence on their visit to Africa-that desire can be of Sali, SAPCO should implement an efficient satisfied through imaginative new initiatives. garbage and sewage waste disposal system by Yet ecotourism and cultural events such as increasing the number of refuse bins and pro dancing and local craft production in Sali can moting environmental awareness (both among not be the main lever for increasing local par local residents and tourists) focused on the fra ticipation in tourism. Rather, this should be gility of the coastal environment. Such an ini brought about through a balanced program of tiative can help to enhance the reputation of the agricultural diversification, the upgrading of resort. traditional fishing and through better educa tion for Sali local villagers, both male and fe Conclusion male. Tourism development in the Petite Cote has Enhanced skills for local residents had both positive and negative impacts. Some It is necessary to provide training to help aspects of the infrastructure in Sali have been better integrate Sali locals into existing resort significantly improved. Nonetheless, it is cru employment structures instead of recruiting cial that tourism growth in the Petite Cote people from outside the area. SAPCO and other should be better controlled so as to avoid its authorities should support their education and pernicious consequences. In this context, a new training in a variety of marketable skills for type of more 'integrated tourism' needs to be jobs in tourism and tourism management. blueprinted and implemented. Such a form would allow locals greater direct participation Educating locals about their foreign guests at all levels and in new modes in this lucrative It is well known that by supplying the host activity. At the same time, traditional village population with comprehensive information skills such as handicrafts should be maintained, about tourists and tourism, many misunder where possible reducing the massive 'de standings could be eliminated, feelings of ag skilling' that often comes with modernization. gression prevented, more sympathetic attitudes Through their field investigations, economic developed and a better basis for hospitality and geographers can help point the way forward by contact with tourists created (Krippendorf cited suggesting strategies to remedy the empirical in Mowforth and Munt 1998). Education flows ills they document. Various programs (both in the touristic environment can thus be made privately financed as well as through govern two-way, with both guests and locals profiting ment agencies) are needed to upgrade the skill from a broadening of horizons, the learning of levels of local youths while avoiding 'deskill cultural tolerance and developing a greater re ing.' Programs are also needed to modernize the spect for and appreciation of the 'Other.' traditional sectors of fishing and agriculture and to promote equitable access to jobs in the Useful feedback for tourism developers tourism industry at all levels. A concerted Moreover, enhanced contact and greater com effort both by government and private enter munication between hotel managers, tourists prise is imperative to grapple with the scourges and Sali local residents can provide entrepre of drug abuse and rampant prostitution along neurs and management with a better awareness the Petite Cote and elsewhere in African touris of the actual environmental problems associ tic areas, addressing their underlying causes. Impacts of Coastal Tourism 77

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