Why over 50000 Brits visit tiny Gambia each year
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iny Gambia with a river running through its entire length, has a population of about 1.6 million which is less than that of each of the nine regions of England and a little less than a quarter of the population of London. Little is perhaps know about The Gambia, partly because it is the smallest country on mainland Africa, or maybe because it is not one of the African countries usually of interest to international television news networks. But according to the Gambia Hotel Association website, it is fast becoming one of the most sought-after winter sun destinations for European tourists. It appears then that what the country lacks for newsworthy attention, it does for attracting Brits looking for a holiday destination within a reasonable distance. Ironically though, tourism has always been associated with what Gambia should have been best known for since it gained independence from Britain in 1965. During the past 10 years, tourism has emerged as one of, if not the most important industry for the local economy. A fully functional and independent tourism board has been established to work alongside the ministry to develop strategies aimed at promoting tourism as a competitive and viable industry. Tourism to Gambia now has more to offer as the choice for visitors continue to expand year after year with new add-ons like sky diving launched this year. “Go Discover The Smiling Coast of Africa” is the new slogan being promoted to feature this virgin destination with the words “Go Discover” added to what is still known to many as the smiling coast of Africa. When Jojo’s Mag visited the Gambia Tourism stand at the World Travel Market in London on 7th November 2012, we had a chat with the Gambian delegation and according to the assertion of the Honourable Minister of Tourism, The Gambia receives over 100,000 visitors a year mainly from Europe with Brits making up for more than half of the visitors, a fact that is verifiable from several sources on the www. Surprisingly these figures only represent the seasonal visitors coming in during the traditionally promoted tourist season months of November to May when the country is 100% rain free. According to several members of the tourism fair delegation, due to an ever increasing demand from visitors, the country is launching a new strategy to promote what it is calling the “GREEN SEASON” which will run from June to October. This is a period when there are more hotel bed spaces available and the price is right, a hidden secret already known to most repeat visitors. Visiting the Gambia is really cheap. A simple internet search would lead you to unbelievable prices backed by reputable organisations like Thomas Cook, Cosmos and Serenity Holidays (trading as Gambia Experience). Holiday packages are available for all categories of visitors including families, couples and singles.
But what really draws Brits to Gambia? In a separate chat several months prior to our meeting with the Gambia tourism delegation, a Brit who is a frequent visitor shared his top reasons why he keeps revisiting. “You can get everything you need; it’s just 6 hours from the UK within the same time zone; flights and accommodations are unbelievable; food and drinks are cheap; the people are nice-they call you by your first name with a genuine smile, and when you get to know your way
around, you are most likely to visit more than once in a year.” Some of the reasons given above seems to top the list of most travel websites on Gambia. The Gambia Tourism Board website states that UK and EU citizens, and members of the Commonwealth DO NOT REQUIRE A VISA to enter the country for trips not exceeding 90 days and an International Certificate of Vaccination is no longer compulsory for visitors. However, anti-malaria pills are recommended and can be easily obtained from your local GP/doctor. Visitors are also advised to bring along insect repellents, sunburn, anti-fungal creams and disinfectant.
What to expect as a tourist/recommended things to do: The Gambia has most of the things you would expect in any popular tourist destination. However, bird watching has emerged to be very popular with over 500 species of birds. This is in addition to the lively market towns, fantastic beaches, year round sunshine, river tours to see hippos, visit to the Kachikally crocodile pool and historical sites, good cuisines, eco tourism and now: sky diving. Monitoring and maintaining quality standards are now top on the agenda of the Tourism Board to ensure industry standards. Tour operators are required to have public liability insurance and mandatory health and safety checks are carried out on all tour operators and hoteliers. Like in any other country, there are varying standards of hotels, but what is certain is what you may pay for a 3 star hotel anywhere in the UK, will definitely get you the best memorable visit to The Gambia. Reasons to visit The Gambia from the www
Our Recommended websites for more info on visiting Gambia
1. Fantastic winter sun 2. Just 6 hours from UK so no jet lag! 3. Great range of accommodation with a wide range of restaurants 4. Fantastic sandy beaches that stretch for miles 5. Guaranteed sunshine holidays to suit all pockets and taste 6. Beautiful ecotourism. 7. One of the world’s best birdwatching destinations 8. Excellent sea and river fishing and excursion 9. A local English speaking and friendly people with a rich and different culture
1. Gambia Experience (UK Tour Operator) www.gambia.co.uk/ 2. Gambia Tours (Ground Tour Operator) www.gambiatours.gm 3. Gambia Hotels Association www.gambiahotels.gm 4. Gambia Tourism Board www.visitthegambia.gm/ 5. Bird Watching www.birdsofthegambia.com/ 6. International Roots Festival www.rootsgambia.gm 7. Sky Diving Gambiawww.skydivediscovery.com/uk/ index.html 8. Foreign and Commonwealth Office www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-livingabroad/travel-advice-by-country/ sub-saharan-africa/gambia-the/
Jojo’s MAG 15