The document outlines the historical context and evolution of responsible tourism in Gambia, highlighting the impact of various socio-economic factors on local communities and the tourism sector since the country's independence in 1965. It discusses the formation of asset and initiatives aimed at promoting sustainable practices, stakeholder involvement, and the importance of local community benefits while addressing challenges such as government regulations and market access for disadvantaged groups. The document emphasizes that responsible tourism should prioritize community welfare, ethical principles, and the preservation of cultural and environmental heritage, moving beyond mere economic gains.

1. A
Responsible Tourism Story
Lessons from The Association of Small Scale Enterprises in Tourism
(Adama Bah- ASSET- Gambia)

2. Tourism and In-Dependence
 1965- self rule from Empire-
“Independence”
 1965- Investor in tourism 300
tourists
 1970 Republican status
 1972-White paper on tourism
 Tourism seen as the “black
gold”
 40 Km of beach

3. Impact?
 Increased debt
burden-infrastructure
 Women rice and
vegetable growers
affected
 Fisherpersons affected
 Communities not
compensated for lost
of community land
 Cluster development
 “Bendula” Meeting
concept
 Informal sector
businesses created
 Women participation
in cash trade-
 Traditional Craft -cast
system

4. 1980s Financial Crises!
 Poverty increased;
 inflation accelerated;
 real per capita income declined;
 agricultural production failed;
 shortages of basic commodities
(fuel, rice, etc)
 creditworthiness declined -
donors suspended all aid except
for humanitarian assistance.

5. 1985- ERP
 Workers in the public sector
made redundant
 Foreign currency float – no
fixed rate
 Agricultural subsidies
cancelled
 Government divestiture
programme started with
more redundancy
RESULT
More
dependence
onTourism

6. Tourism Movements
 1994 Military take over
 Travel advice
 Sustainability ofTourism an issue
 1996- campaigned on fairer
tourism mainly targeting
consumers andTour operators
 1999- Inspiration from CSD7 on
tourism and sustainability
 2000- ASSET Formed
 2000-2003 Informal sector
project- market access
 2002- CapeTown inspiration

7. Agenda for Change
2000 informal sector
project….
 Conflicts of interests?
 How can the poor better
access the market?
 How can linkages be
improved?
 Training/licensing/insurance
requirements
 Formal sector participation
 Informal/small enterprises
respect

8. Inspiration: Cape Town Declaration 2002
GTA Directors attended and got Inspired
 Minimises negative environmental,social and cultural impacts;
 Generates greater economic benefits for local people and enhances the wellbeing of
host communities,by improving working conditions and access to the industry;
 involves local people in decisions that affect their lives and life chances.
 makes positive contributions to the conservation of natural and cultural heritage and
to the maintenance of the world’s diversity;
 provides more enjoyable experiences for tourists through more meaningful
connections with local people, and a greater understanding of local cultural and
environmental issues;
 provides access for physically challenged people;
 and is culturally sensitive and engenders respect between tourists and hosts.

9. 2004 BLUE PRINT: Creating
Responsible Tourism Policy
What we wanted to achieve….
 Demonstrate stakeholder responsible behavior – by assuring
compliance and sustainability.
 Comply with ethical business principles, national laws and
international norms.
 Commit to human rights, employee rights, environmental
protection, community involvement, stakeholder rights, right to
access etc. and monitoring.
 Implement Stakeholder Responsibility on 3’ple bottom lines:
environmentally sound, socially just and economically viable for a
better future.
 Market for a better unique destination not just for the numbers

10. Communities as genuine stakeholders
Contributions towards making tourism possible
 Tourism as an investment to make development possible for
people
 Development plans and external debt burden
 Economic: Direct and indirect taxes impact on people’s
poverty
 Cultural: Sell people’s cultural attributes
 Environment: For people to protect the environment provide
alternatives in tourism
 Therefore not for charity but positive development

11. Taking Responsibility…….
What it means to us?
 Beyond “greenwashing” to measurable positive CHANGE
 Take Responsibility: NO outsourcing
 Not small vs. big- Everyone takes responsibility
 Commitment to ethical principles ie addressing social issues
and poverty seriously not just for the money or the
environment.
 Should include the right to say “Yes” or “No” to tourism-
consultation
 Commitment for creating consumer awareness
 Making available resources to implement RT projects;
 Staff training (capacity building);
 Consultation /Collaboration between stakeholders;
 Social and Environmental monitoring and evaluation to
determine progress.

12. Responsibility: Benefit communities and SMEs
Gambian Situation…
 ASSET – training, product design &
development, marketing etc..
 Government: 2011Tourism
Regulations ratified.
 Government legislated the fruit
vendors, local guides, juice pressers,
craft market vendors and tourists taxi
drivers as formal businesses.
 Government- Schedule B ground
operational license introduced for
small operators
 Tour operators, Hotels –Travel
Foundation

13. RT Projects
 2000-2003 Informal
sector access to market.
 2005- GiG project
Linking local vegetable
production to hotels
 2010-2012- Roots
Community excursions-
gate fees, employment,
community development
 “Switch Off and Save Big”
 2011- “Guaranteed
Gambian” craft project

14. GG-Market Access for local craft

15. RT Project implementation…
Achievements Challenges
 Motivated and dedicated
individuals can make it happen
 Participation of government and
tour operators
 Stakeholder’s support
 Mass tourism can make bigger
impacts in terms of economic
returns-proper linkages
 Use of Bottom up and top down
approaches
 Awareness of RT Issues
 Changing dynamics of tourism
 Traditions vs Entrepreneurship
drive
 Access to market for the poor
 Government regulations slow
 Constant monitoring
 Provide subsidies “in transition” –
for the poor
 Short term nature of projects-
cultural shift of beneficiaries not
taken into consideration.
 Exit strategy – who takes over
when beneficiaries are “not ready”

16. RT Project Implementation: Relevance and
Evidence based
Process
 Consult to establish
relevance
 Research to establish
evidence
 What “Barriers”?
 Dialogue
 Build Consensus
 Implement
 Monitor

17. RT Lessons…
RESPONSIBLE TOURISM
PARTNERSHIP
Not just a worthy cause but
good business!
POLICY
 Influence from CapeTown
RT Conference and
declaration in 2002
 RT Policy of the Gambia
done and presented at the
WorldTravel Market in
2004

18. Capacity Building
 ICRT Msc Students sharing
with Gambian Senior
Executives, Managers,ASSET
members etc..
 13 +10 Students on
Commonwealth Scholarships
to Gambians andW/African
 Helped to build Capacity
 Spread word on RT practices
 “ThinkTank” for Gambian
tourism development

19. Irresponsible Tourism:
Take Action!
:- RTP/ASSET/GTA worked with Child Protection Alliance-CPA -to train stakeholderCode of C on Child Sex Tourism signed and dispmany
hoteIssued by GTA
 ASSET/GTB worked with Child Protection
Alliance-CPA -to train stakeholders
 Code of Conduct on Child SexTourism
signed and displayed by many hotels
 Tourism offensesAct (2003)
 Electronic signboard mounted at the Banjul
International Airport.
Child SexTourism is an Issue

20. Consultation and collaboration
all the way
ASSET
• Represent the voiceless: SMEs and
Informal sector
• Build credible institution
• Dialogue… building trust…
and fair play…
• Collaborate not aggressive
competition
• Work with Government and
private operators
• The destination first
• Share and replicate where
possible

21. Thank You!
www.therealgambia.org