Sidi and Dr Sain,
My speech on the proposed classifficatin for your information.
Chi Jamma,
Sidi M Sanneh wrote:

> Bro. Sheikh Tejan,
>
> I must thank you and Alpha for your efforts in getting the statement read
> despite the late submission.  I tried reaching you by phone without success.
> I had to send an SOS through Sheik Taharr to Fama Njie and Alpha via e-mail.
> I have just gone through your latest posting on the sector and I couldn't
> agree with you more.  Extend my best wishes to Bax Touray and Abdou Njie
> who, in my opinion, are the best in the business. To Batch Fye, Laye Mboge
> and Fama Njie whoes contribution on ground tour operation and
> infrastructural development would prove invaluable. I am looking forward to
> the outcome of your deliberations and your own individual contribution
> particularly the role of the local entrepreneurs/managers like yourself. To
> Alpha Barry who is one of the driving forces behind this workshop which is
> being financed entirely by Delloit & Touche; thanks Alpha.  I thank you once
> more Bro. Sheikh and keep us posted.
>
> Sidi Sanneh
>
> >From: Sheikh Tejan Nyang <[log in to unmask]>
> >Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list
> ><[log in to unmask]>
> >To: [log in to unmask]
> >Subject: Re: Gambian Tourism : Current Status and Future Prospects
> >Date: Wed, 1 Nov 2000 21:17:04 +0000
> >
> >Sidi,
> >Your speech was read and we  felt your absence. Your speech torched on all
> >aspects of the sector which needs
> >to be addressed. Will keep you posted on the final outcome of the workshop.
> >Regards,
> >Chi Jamma,
> >Bro Tejan.
> >
> >Sidi M Sanneh wrote:
> >
> > > The statement below is my contribution to the Tourism Workshop currently
> > > taking place at the Senegambia Beach Hotel in Banjul.  I have requested
> >the
> > > organisers to insert it in the official transcript of the proceedings.
> >The
> > > statement draws extensively on recent Bank Missions to Banjul. I hope it
> > > will be of interest to some.
> > >
> > > __________________________________
> > >
> > > STATEMENT BY MR. SIDI SANNEH
> > > AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK AT THE STAKEHOLDERS WORKSHOP ON THE WAY FORWARD
> >–
> > > TOURISM IN THE GAMBIA
> > > 1ST AND 2ND NOVEMBER 2000
> > >
> > > Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen.
> > >
> > > Let me begin by saying that it is indeed an honor and privilege to be
> > > invited to be present with you at this workshop. Unfortunately and due
> >to
> > > the recent political crisis in Cote d’Ivoire, I have not been able to
> >travel
> > > to this seminar. Nevertheless, I wish to thank you on behalf of the
> > > management of the African Development Bank for the kind invitation that
> >was
> > > extended to the bank and also to the Private Sector Department.
> > >
> > > Distinguished Ladies & Gentlemen
> > >
> > > Tourism to The Gambia dates back 35 years to 1964/65 when the country
> >was
> > > identified by Swedish and Danish packaged tour operators catering to a
> > > down-market clientele in search of a more "exotic", and prestigious
> > > alternative to the Balearic Islands and the Spanish Sun Coast; the
> >product
> > > being essentially 3-S (Sun, Sand and Sea) as also offered in Spain.
> > > Initially, tourism was confined to two hotels in the Gambian capital
> >Banjul
> > > during the winter season from November to April. The earlier tour
> >operators
> > > were established as the main Scandinavian "happy-go-lucky" tour
> >companies
> > > whose main activities were relaxation, beach parties and a high degree
> >of
> > > alcohol consumption. The bulk of package fees were paid in Europe, while
> > > Gambian hotels catering to Western visitors were owned or controlled by
> > > European investors. From 1970/71 to 1990 growth in visitor arrivals was
> > > significant, hotel bed capacity expanding from 2,600 in 1970 to 6,000 in
> > > 1993; and finally, 6,926 for 2000. Air charter visitor numbers grew from
> > > 1,207 in 1969/70 to 58,026 in 1990/91 and 89,997 in 1993/94.
> > >
> > > A Tourism Office and Tourism Liaison Board was established in 1970,
> >which
> > > also saw the inception of a Tourism Development Area (The TDA)
> >encompassing
> > > the peri-urban areas of Bakau, Fajara, Kololi and Kotu adjacent to the
> >major
> > > Gambian township Serekunda linked by a causeway to Banjul. However,
> >tourism
> > > developments were on ad-hoc basis with only minimal attempt of zoning
> >and
> > > regulation. A Ministry of Tourism was established in 1974 to supervise
> >the
> > > sector.
> > >
> > > Scandinavian tourism dominance ceased in 1985, with Britain becoming the
> > > major source market, with a significant 54% drop in Scandinavian visitor
> > > arrivals from 1975 to 1985. Germans entered the market in significant
> > > numbers along with visitors from the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg,
> > > France, Switzerland and Austria. However British market domination of
> >the
> > > tourism industry was almost complete by 1994 when it comprised 60% of
> >the
> > > market.  The 1997/98 season saw the arrival of 90,810 charter visitors,
> > > while 1998/99 was the record year for tourist arrivals with a total of
> > > 120,000 charter visitors with an average stay of 13 days, i.e. just over
> >1.5
> > > million bed-nights.
> > >
> > > The Present Tourism Situation in The Gambia
> > >
> > > Although the tourism industry is vital to the Gambian economy
> >contributing
> > > between 12% to 18% to the country’s GDP, it being hampered by a tour
> > > operator monopoly and extensive leakage. Gambian direct and indirect
> > > employment within the tourism sector is estimated at approximately
> >10,000,
> > > providing basic sustenance for what may be close to a tenth of the
> >Gambian
> > > population. Accordingly, even a minor crisis in the tourism industry
> >would
> > > have severe implications for the well being of the Gambian population in
> > > general.
> > >
> > > After 35 years as a tourist destination for predominantly West European
> > > visitors, The Gambia is still almost exclusively a down-mid market,
> >3-S's,
> > > packaged tour destination, with almost no mid-up market "3rd generation"
> > > free individual travellers, dominating other sectors of the
> >international
> > > market. The male/female visitor ratio is 55/45. Only very limited
> >product
> > > development has taken place, while spatial development and zoning has
> >been
> > > erratic, coinciding with the deterioration of beaches in the TDA. A very
> > > high proportion of tourists to The Gambia are repeat visitors. In 1998,
> >the
> > > total number of visitor arrivals on charter flights was 91,106 composed
> >of
> > > 42% British, 26% German/Austrian, 16% Dutch/Belgian and 10%
> >Scandinavian.
> > >
> > > European packaged tour operators are presently consolidating as cartels
> > > through a maze of take-overs, giving small countries with
> >underdeveloped,
> > > and under-funded, tourism organisational structures only very limited
> > > bargaining power, while competitive new 3-S destinations, offering
> >nature
> > > and culture as a holiday add-on are proliferating on the world market.
> >The
> > > total dependency on packaged tour operators imposes a major economic
> > > disadvantage on local service suppliers vis-à-vis international tour
> > > operators/foreign investors. Further, taxes and fees from the tourism
> >sector
> > > in The Gambia are paid directly to the Central Treasury and local
> > > authorities, only minimal amounts being allocated for the strengthening
> >of
> > > the tourism industry.
> > >
> > > FUTURE TOURISM POTENTIAL
> > >
> > > The Gambia tourism industry is presently hampered by its limited
> > > international profile as a down-market, packaged 3-S destination.
> >However
> > > The Gambia provides excellent scope for development and market
> >penetration,
> > > if a more activity oriented product mix is developed, paired with a
> > > marketing profile bringing The River Gambia, nature, cruising, canoeing,
> > > nature and culture up-front. The primary attraction of The Gambia should
> >be
> > > the River, including huge stretches of Mangrove forest as well as salt
> >and
> > > fresh water swamp areas. The River is easily navigable and mainly safe.
> >Bird
> > > watching, dolphin watching, sport fishing and mangrove “exploration”
> >could
> > > be main activities, along with cruising visits to river villages, sites
> >and
> > > towns. The Gambia mangrove areas are the closest environments to the
> > > European markets.
> > >
> > > With its high degree of ethnic diversity The Gambia offers a wide range
> >of
> > > visitor experiences within its limited land and river area. These
> > > attractions include performing arts (dance and music) which are highly
> > > developed, while Gambian cuisine is diverse and attractive.
> >Art-handicraft
> > > production is mainly aimed at the present visitor down-market, and
> >therefore
> > > has limited variation and show of skills. The majority of objects sold
> >on
> > > tourist markets can be classified as examples of "airport art". However,
> > > objects displayed at The Gambia National Museum indicate that there is
> >good
> > > scope for an upgrading of quality, given a more discerning visitor
> >market.
> > > The Gambia has a range of historical buildings; monuments; and
> > > archaeological sites well described in historic sites of the Gambia
> > > published by the National Council for Arts and Culture in 1998. Most
> >sites
> > > monuments and buildings are in need of protection and conservation.
> > >
> > > Given that present tourism to The Gambia is almost exclusively in the
> >hands
> > > of
> > > International packaged-tour operator cartels, it is understandable that
> > > Gambian marketing of the Gambia product is only very limited, and that
> > > marketing outlets are few. However, developments of The Gambia product
> > > requires adequate profiling of the country as a nature-, culture- and
> > > cruise-destination, which would need a concentrated international
> >marketing
> > > effort by the Gambia.
> > >
> > > Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen,
> > >
> > > Given the huge potential for growth in the Tourism sector, the African
> > > Development Bank in close co-operation with the Department of State for
> > > Tourism and Culture, is financing a sectoral study, whose major
> >objectives
> > > are to undertake a thorough review of the tourism industry in The Gambia
> > > with a view to formulating suitable policies and strategies for the
> > > development of the sector within short, medium- and long-term periods
> >for
> > > the planning period of up to 2022.
> > >
> > > The outcome of the proposed study will be a comprehensive and detailed
> > > Development Master Plan covering the entire tourism sector of The
> >Gambia, by
> > > focusing on product development; market development; environmental
> > > protection, sector reform, the establishment of a tourism data base,
> >zoning
> > > of tourism developments; maximisation of economic benefits of the sector
> > > through increased utilisation of local resources. The Master Plan
> >prepared
> > > by the Consultants will guide the government to formulate and adopt
> > > appropriate policies and procedures; institute the necessary reforms and
> > > legislation for the sustained development of the sector.
> > >
> > > Further to the Master Plan, the study will outline a number of tourism-
> >or
> > > tourism related projects that could be developed during the planning
> >period.
> > > Special emphasis will be given to the preparation of the project briefs
> >that
> > > could possibly be undertaken, primarily by the private sector, during
> >the
> > > first five years of the planning period.
> > >
> > > Distinguished Ladies & Gentlemen
> > >
> > > One of the main areas of benefit to the study will be the assistance to
> >the
> > > Government in bringing about complete institutional reform in the sector
> > > which will be aimed at attracting private investment into the country
> >and
> > > ensuring the smooth functioning of the tourism industry. The role of the
> > > government in the direct promotional activities of the tourism industry
> >will
> > > be effectively reduced, confining its functions to the regulation of the
> > > sector from the top. The study will look into the possibility of setting
> >up
> > > institution in the form of a National Tourism Organisation (NOT),
> > > incorporating Government, the private sector and other stakeholders such
> >as
> > > the NGOs, which will be in charge of the promotional aspect of the
> >sector.
> > >
> > > Furthermore the study will assist in the enhancement of the
> >institutional
> > > capacity of the executing agency through the training of counterpart
> >staff
> > > who will understudy the consultants during the execution of the study.
> >The
> > > staff trained will be responsible for planning for the sector in future
> >and
> > > also in following up the recommendations of the study after the
> >departure of
> > > the consultants, thus contributing to the sustainability of the study.
> > >
> > > Based upon the preceding paragraphs, it can be concluded that tourism to
> >The
> > > Gambia has in recent years become a high-risk industry due to among
> >other
> > > reasons, a lack of product development, product deterioration, lack of
> > > planning, institutional weaknesses and outdated legislation. These
> >problems
> > > need to be solved immediately in order to avoid further deterioration of
> >the
> > > situation, which would result in economic decline and serious social
> > > consequences for the country. The Gambia has excellent potential for
> > > developing and expanding its tourism industry.
> > >
> > > Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, on behalf of the African Development
> > > Bank, I thank you for time afforded and your attention.
> > >
> > >
> >_________________________________________________________________________
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