Mr Sambou,
Thanks for forwarding this piece and I wish the ministry take this seriously to avoid disruption in the tourism sector. I have point out this in my previous mails, that, the tourists will understand if the people are begging them because begging is a phenomena as they realised the fact that, the natural Gambia is what they came there for. We should not in any how pretending to be what we are not, we are poor and the people should act like one. They also love to see the local people and mixed up with them in-order to see the real Gambia, much more to enter-act with them in doing business locally than stay in the hotel for their entire trips.
Tourism have long since being changed to cultural, traditional and historical and natural tourism and these means they wanted to meet Gambian do things with them visit and be acquainted to their ways of life, culture and traditional ways of doing things etc. therefore, these are the trend every tourism country is trying to develop to match with the needs of the target groups. I think the ministry or the tourism concern department are not doing any kinds of research regarding the needs and wants of their guests. You will never be correct on people's tastes without questioning them. I think the government should do their own questionnaire research in each and every hotel rooms with the basic questions on what they like and dislike as a tourist in the Gambia? If this questions are in place, then the annalistic part is not correctly done. Bumser should not be at all treated as animals but great important and co-operate partners in the development of the industry. The authorities ignored the realistic fact that some the repeated tourist in the country was engineered by the so called bumster or bummers. The police who are maltreating the boys and girls are just jealous and gready hence they wanted the contacts with tourist for themself not for the unemployed. They have the right to control the industry but they should realised the fact that not all the tourist love the Gambian to treat each other heavy handedly like it is happening in front of them.
There should be in-fact, two different sets of questions in this regard, one containing the question on what they will like to see and do in the Gambia and what are their main reason to travel to the Gambia? this first part should be collected during the first week of their stay to be replaced by what they have experience during their stay. There can even be a reward offered for the first certain number of them to complete the forms, This is another strategy to be used to having the question be attended.Or there can be someone to carter for face to face interviews with some of the tourist telling them the fact that you will love to improve the sector but without their help, This will be impossible. Saying this sentence mean a lot to tourist hence their ideas have a great impact on your progress, they will therefore be willing to help as you are giving them some responsibility and a challenge as a tourist in your country and respecting his/ her opinions.
