Tourism in The Gambia: some issues in development policy

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.