Tourism accounts for roughly 20 pc of Gambia’s gross domestic product (Photo: Gambia Tourism )
With tourism being the most important sector of its economy, accounting for 20 pc of the national GDP and also the largest employer with 1 in 5 Gambians working in the industry, The Gambia has been hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic. In a major step to revive its tourism and hence the national economy, the government of the ocean-facing West African nation signs a USD 68 million grant with the World Bank.
The grant will support the diversification and climate resilience of tourism in Gambia, the smallest mainland African nation, with around 2.1 million inhabitants. It will also promote sustainable tourism, develop different holiday experiences and help protect the country’s Atlantic coastline from the impacts of climate change, says a press release by the World Bank.
World Bank Managing Director of Operations Axel Van Trotsenburg says that, just like several other nations across Africa, Gambia’s tourism sector had also been hit hard by both the factors of pandemic and economic fallouts of the war in Ukraine.
According to the World Bank, the pandemic caused Gambia’s economic growth to contract by 0.2 pc in 2020. The economy has since started to recover, reaching 5.6 pc growth in 2021, largely driven by the return of beach resort-goers and remittances.
Tourism accounts for roughly 20 pc of Gambia’s gross domestic product and is the largest foreign exchange earner, according to the government.
Ethical and ecotourism destination
The Republic of The Gambia is commonly referred to as the Smiling Coast of Africa, is situated in the western region of Africa. It is an agriculturally fertile country, dominated by farming, fishing and tourism.
The Gambia features golden beaches backed by swaying palms, scenic lagoons, sleepy fishing villages, and teeming wildlife—including manatees, hippos, crocodiles, and nearly 600 bird species. The Gambia also hosts the Chimpanzee Rehabilitation Centre, Africa’s longest-running chimp project. The country has also won awards as Ethical Destination magazine.
With over 550 species of birds for bird watching enthusiasts, The Gambia also boasts of breath-taking and captivating eco-tourism products such as Abuko Nature Reserve, River Gambia National Park, and Kiang West National Park. It is also home to three UNESCO World Heritage sites. It has numerous water sporting & fishing activities with the Atlantic Ocean and River Gambia.
Tourism in The Gambia has become the fastest-growing sector of the economy as visitors coming in every year are drawn by its beaches, birds, sunshine, the culture and the country’s biggest asset – the friendliness and hospitality of The Gambian people along with the peace, security and political stability of the country. This has been the case since independence in 1965 and hence the reason why The Gambia is known as ”the Smiling Coast of Africa”.
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