12 Years of Responsible Tourism

Development:

Lessons from The Gambia

Adama Bah, ICRT-WA Secretary General

Taking Responsibility....What it means for us.

• Commitment to ethical principles ie addressing social issues and poverty seriously not just for the money or the environment.

• Should include the right to say “Yes” or “No” to tourism-consultation

• Commitment for creating consumer awareness • Making available resources to implement RT projects;• Staff training (capacity building);• Consultation /Collaboration between stakeholders;• Social and Environmental monitoring and evaluation to

determine progress.

Inspiration: GTA Directors attended Cape Town RT Conf.

1 . Minimises negative environmental, social and cultural impacts;2. generates greater economic benefits for local people and enhances

the wellbeing of host communities, by improving working conditionsand access to the industry;

3. involves local people in decisions that affect their lives and lifechances.

4. makes positive contributions to the conservation of natural and cultural heritage and to the maintenance of the world’s diversity;

5. provides more enjoyable experiences for tourists through more meaningful connections with local people, and a greater understanding of local cultural and environmental issues;

6. provides access for physically challenged people; and7. is culturally sensitive and engenders respect between tourists and

hosts.Cape town declaration 2002

BLUE PRINT: Creating Responsible Tourism Policy

What we want to achieve….•Demonstrate stakeholder responsible behavior – by assuring compliance and sustainability.

•Comply with ethical business principles, national laws and international norms.

•Commit to human rights, employee rights, environmental protection, community involvement, stakeholder rights, right to access etc. and monitoring.

•Implement Stakeholder Responsibility on 3’ple bottom lines: environmentally sound, socially just and economically viable for a better future.

•Market for a better unique destination not just for the numbers

HOW? Implementation History

1995- GTC Formed out of ‘British travel Advice’

1999- CSD 7 attended on Sustainable Tourism2000- GTC Workshop - SMEs and CBTEs2000- ASSET Formed2000-2003- Dfid funded linking informal sector2002- GTA attended RT conference in Cape town-SA2003- RTP Formed2004- RT Policy of The Gambia2005- Now- The Travel Foundation/ Thomas Cook funded projects2007- MBOKA ’07 in Dakar2008-MBOKA’08/WATM on promoting sustainable Tourism2010- ICRT, ICRT-WA and University of Gambia Commonwealth 13+10

scholarships2010- CAMP AFRICA – looking at youth market for unique product

Lesson 1: RT POLICY

Influence from Cape Town RT Conference and declaration in 2002

RT Policy of the Gambia done and presented at the World Travel Market in 2004

Lesson 2: Dialogue and

raising awareness on

RT Issues

RTP formed in 2003 “Talking Shop” can be positivePolicy DialogueTour Operator’s KeyAgree/review projects to avoid duplications

Lesson 3: Capacity Building

• ICRT Msc Students sharing with Gambian Senior Executives, Managers, ASSET members etc..

• 13 +10 Students on Commonwealth Scholarships to Gambians and W/Afircan

• Helped to build Capacity• Spread word on RT practices• “Think Tank” for Gambian

tourism development

Lesson 4: Irresponsible Tourism: Child protection:-

RTP/ASSET/GTA worked with Child

Protection Alliance-CPA -to train stakeholders

Code of Conduct on Child Sex Tourism

signed and displayed by many hotelsIssued by GTA

lesson 5: Market RT (policy)• The way in which The Gambia is marketed is a central part of the process of

implementing responsible tourism principles in The Gambia.

• We seek to grow the industry by attracting market segments which value the natural and cultural heritage assets of The Gambia.

• We seek to differentiate The Gambia from other sun, sand and sea destinations – we enjoy high levels of repeat business and we seek to build on those elements of the product which encourage repeat visiting.

• We recognise that the further development of the industry in The Gambia, and investment in it, is dependent upon planning and product development which meet the requirements of the evolving market.

• We also recognise that we can influence the kinds of tourists that we attract by the way in which we develop and present The Gambia as a tourism product.

LESSONS 6. Consultation all the way:

ASSET • Represent the voiceless:SMEs and Informal sector

• Build credible institution• Dialogue… building trust… and fair play…

• Collaborate not aggressive competition

• The destination first

Lesson 7: RT Initiatives:

• Linking the Informal Sector• Building of ASSET as a trade association• The “GiG” project- Linking the agricultural sector• The GiG/ Sifoe Kaffo farm excursion/ TTF• “Roots” Excursion/ TTF• Sandele & Karong -Community/Private sector Investment• Capacity building of the informal sector• ASSET- Cultural Encounters• Camp Africa• GG craft project/ TTF & Thomas Cook• SOSB- Switch off and Save Big/ TTF & Thomas Cook

Lesson 8.

WORK WITH GOVERNMENT is key– to achieve the triple bottom lines of economic, environment and social development

Leave them to take the ‘honor’ or credit… just make sure genuine CHANGE is achieved….

Lesson 9.

Challenges:MONITOR, ADVOCATE

AND EXPOSE

Irresponsible TourismStakeholders MUST not be allowed to

‘Green-wash’ !Very few take responsibility of this!

LAST LESSON:

Destinations are made!

Our destination (destiny) should be made by us, NOT for us!

Therefore TAKE RESPONSIBILITY!