Tourism in the Gambia: Some Issues in Development Policy
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World Development, Vol. 21. No. 2, pp. 277-280, 1993. 0305-750x/93 $6.00 + 0.00 Printed in Great Britain. @ I993 Pergamon Press Ltd Tourism in The Gambia: Some Issues in Development Policy PETER U. C. DIEKE University of Strathclyde, Glasgow Summary. - The paper deals with a number of issues arising from the design and implementation of tourism policies and programs in The Gambia. It gives a description of tourism in the Gambian economy and discusses the reasons for success in this sector. A number of recommendations are put forward related to the need to increase earnings from tourism and to reduce the incidence of black markets. The overall conclusion of the paper is that a shift toward more cautious and flexible policies would benefit the tourism sector in The Gambia and thus make the programs intended to assist this sector more effective. It is on that basis that the country will attract more foreign tourists, and improve the standards and quality of products. The programs must also be executed in a careful, sensitive and planned manner that ensures the cooperation of the local communities. 1. INTRODUCTION Senegal, its closest neighbor. The population in 1989 was estimated at 848,000, which during The Gambia (Figure l), located on the west 1980-89, grew at an annual rate of 3.3% (World coast of Africa, by an international standard, is a Bank, 1990). With a land area of 11,295 km2 small country. It occupies a narrow, 350 km long much of which is saline marshes, the country has strip of land on both sides of the Gambia River, a population density of 73 people per km*, and is surrounded on its three landward sides by reportedly one of the highest in mainland Africa. Figure I. Map of The Gambia 277 27X WORLD DEVELOPMENT Like most small developing countries, The was unknown. With its “discovery” and subse- Gambia suffers from many structural deficiencies quent promotion, the tourism sector has grown which include: considerably in many respects (Table 1). The poor resource endowment; reliance on very few number of foreign tourists in 196.5-66 was only primary export products; a small domestic market. 300, increasing to 21,000 10 years later, and by and thus limited industrialization and a heavy 1978-79 the total rose to 26,000 (The Gambia, reliance on imports; dependence on foreign capital; “Tourism Statistics” 1988; WTO, 1991). One high and disproportionate expenditure on admini- explanation, among others, might be the diversi- stration, and social and physical infrastructure fication of source markets (discussed below). In (UNCTAD. 1990). the period 1979 to date, however, arrivals have Two macroeconomic measures were introduced been erratic, and may be ascribed to a combina- to alleviate these pressures, notably the 1985 tion of factors (ARB, 1990a; 1981a; 198lb). The International Monetary Fund (IMF) - inspired oil crisis of 1979 made travel more expensive, and Economic Recovery Programme (ERP) and the coupled with the understanding that tourists are 1990 Programme for Sustained Development price conscious, led to a reduction in tourist (PSD). Both reforms emphasize the significance traffic to The Gambia. This unfortunate situation of market forces in attaining economic develop- was exacerbated by the failed coup attempt of ment for the country, with government providing 1981 which was believed to have led to cancella- the broad economic and political environments tions of holiday packages. It is possible that within which these forces might operate. government’s imposition (in 1988-89) of a 6% What is also striking about the two reform sales tax on international tourist packages and programs is a recognition of the role of tourism in 10% on domestic bookings might have dam- this country’s development process. pened demand. First, tourism has been described as “manna In the same period, available hotel bed stock from heaven” (Erbes, 1973: p. 1) which will solve has increased rapidly because of structural all the economic difficulties of developing coun- changes and extensions carried out by hotel tries, in terms of contributions to foreign ex- owners. At present, hotel capacity constitutes 17 change earnings, government revenues, regional hotels with 5,000 beds. Most of these accommo- development stimuli, and creation of employ- dation outlets are in the Greater Banjul Area ment and income. Second, since many “firsts” (Figure 2), where much tourism development has among other developing countries have estab- taken place. In addition, the average rate of bed lished a tradition of tourism, albeit with success- occupancy of the entire hotel network in 198&87 ful results, The Gambia’s use of the enterprise is was 45%. Rut if one adds to the air charter no exception. Third. as Jenkins (1991) has tourists those visitors who come to The Gambia argued, tourism also provides substantial for other reasons, then one discovers that the intersectoral linkage possibilities, and is not annual bed occupancy rate would be around restrained by the usual trade barriers such as 58.1%. Considering the seasonal nature of The quotas and tariffs. It uses the natural infrastruc- Gambian tourism sector (as argued below), ture of a country such as climate or attractions, competition, price and other factors, one also the development of which, arguably, has a low observes a marked difference in the occupancy marginal cost relative to investment in other rate of air charter tourists in the high season sectors of an economy. Fourth, tourism is a (62.8%) and the low season (19.7%). But in growth sector in the world economy, and its relation to the above statistics, it must, however, growth potential has not been reached (Edwards, be said that considering that The Gambia lacks a 1988). Despite troughs in growth trends, for reliable system of records concerning tourist example. the Gulf War, tourism has the resili- activity (EIU, lY90; World Bank, 1986). these ence to recover quickly from such temporary figures must be viewed with care. Obviously, the setbacks. The aims of this paper are to examine unreliability problems are those associated with how The Gambia, as a small developing country, the general definition, collection, processing of has used tourism as a viable development option, tourist data as well as undercounting. In respect and to consider policy framework which might of The Gambia, perhaps the reliable data on enhance the economic benefits accruing from this tourist traffic are the registrations of charter activity to this country. flights. 2. GROWTH AND NATURE OFTOURISM (a) Tourism in The Gum&an economy DEVELOPMENT In the wider context of development, tourism Before 1965, The Gambia as a tourist resort plays an important role in the country’s economic THE GAMBIA 279 Table 1. Tourist arrivals, bed capacity and horel occupancy 197940 IO 1990-91 Hotel bed occupancy rates % (only air charter tourists) Arrivals Season: Year Air Sea Land Total Bed capacity Yearly High Low 1979-1980 36,570 2,466 3.716 42,752 3,012 43.3 63.5 9.1 198&19X1 29,838 1.767 5,665 37,270 3.360 36.6 44.3 7.Y 19X1-1982 23,068 1,95x 7,812 32.838 3,420 20. I 3X.4 6.7 19X2-1983 41,100 1,019 7,522 49.641 3,9X9 31.6 47.4 17.2 19X3-1984 54,933 1,039 X.136 64,108 3,927 42.9 55.9 20.3 19X4-1985 64,365 1,234 X.254 73,853 3.X65 47.9 61.X 23.5 198&%19X6 67.X63 1,499 8,906 78.268 3.977 48.5 64.4 22.3 19X6-1987 66,551 1.727 9,355 77.633 4,438 45.0 61.9 lX.Y 19X7-1988 86,074 1,310 9,129 96,513 4.500 47.4 62.3 lY.2 198X-19x9 89,898 2,460 9,246 101,604 4.730 49.1 63.5 20.4 19X9-1900 77.075 479 8,306 85,860 5,000 42.5 59.4 17.5 1990-1991 93,945 1,71X 5.756 101,419 5,000 4X.6 62.X 19.7 Sources: The Gambia, “Tourism statistics” (various issues) J7 Sunwmg Hotel Abuko Nature x A Maln towrdcltles v Tourist Hotels x Abuko Nature Reserve N 0 Radio Gambia 0 5km + Yundum International Airport t i 0 3 I Mole! Figure 2. Tourism Development Area (TDA) - Location of some tourist hotels 2x0 WORLD DEVELOPMENT development efforts. Government figures for (Table 2). Tourists are mainly holidaymakers 1989 show that tourism contributed approxi- from northern Europe, predominantly British mately 10% of Gross Domestic Product and net and Swedish, whose arrivals in the 1989-90 earnings of about US$25 million in foreign tourist season represented 57% and 13% respec- exchange (The Gambia, 1990). For the same tively of total arrivals on organized holidays. As a period in focus, the tourism sector employed consequence of official tourism policy to allow about 7,000 Gambians directly or indirectly. The other charter operators especially from France, direct jobs were in hotels and restaurants which Italy, Germany to serve The Gambia, there has provided earnings for workers and investors in been a change in the characteristics of the tourist: the form of wages and profits. Indirectly, more youthful, less-affluent tourists (Steffen, tourism-related activities such as handicrafts, taxi 1988). But a continuing dependence on these transport, or “following the tourists” (prostitu- markets is, of course, among other factors, a tion, “professional friendship” and begging), as function of economic stability in the tourist Farver (1984) described it, provided earnings to source markets. Second, The Gambia’s tourist those engaged in them.