Tourism continues to play a critical role in The Gambia’s economy, generating foreign exchange, creating jobs, and supporting small businesses across the country, government officials and industry experts say.
According to the Gambia Tourism Board (GTB), the sector contributes 15–20% of the nation’s GDP, with over 400,000 international visitors recorded in 2023, primarily from Europe. Visitors’ spending benefits hotels, restaurants, craft markets, and tour operators, injecting vital income into both urban and rural communities.
“Tourism is a lifeline for our economy,” said Ms. Fatou Sanyang of the Ministry of Tourism and Culture. “It creates employment for thousands of Gambians, from hotel staff and guides to taxi drivers and artisans.”
Hotels and resorts employ thousands of staff in different roles ranging from chefs and cleaners to tour coordinators. Local entrepreneurs, such as Alieu Jallow, who operates boat tours in Kotu, report that tourism sustains their businesses and indirectly supports other sectors, including food production, transport, and crafts.
“Tourists are our lifeblood. Each visitor pays for a tour, for drinks, for food, for small souvenirs,” Jallow said. “It’s not just the hotels that benefit, everyone along the chain earns something.”
The Central Bank of The Gambia highlights tourism’s importance for foreign exchange. Dr. Abdoulie Sireh-Jallow, First Deputy Governor, noted that tourist spending strengthens foreign reserves and stabilizes the economy. “The money tourists spend circulates in local markets, supports households, and improves overall economic resilience,” he said.
The sector has also been instrumental in creating employment for youth and women. The Gambia Bureau of Statistics estimates that tourism supports over 40,000 direct and indirect jobs nationwide. Workers gain skills in hospitality management, marketing, and foreign languages, which are transferable across the economy.
Tourism in The Gambia has diversified in recent years. Beyond beach holidays, eco-tourism and cultural tourism initiatives are growing, including community-based projects in Makasutu and eco-lodges along riverbanks. These programs generate income while promoting sustainable use of natural and cultural resources.
The industry faced challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic when international travel declined sharply. However, a strong recovery is underway, aided by government support, improved infrastructure, and renewed European interest. Awa Bojang, hotel manager at Senegambia Resort, said: “The last two years were tough, but now tourists are back, and we are hiring staff again. Tourism is our community’s backbone.”
Government policy emphasizes diversification and sustainability. Investments in roads, airport upgrades, and safety standards, along with digital marketing campaigns and quality standardization through the GTB, aim to attract higher-spending visitors and promote year-round travel.
Tourism’s economic ripple effect extends to agriculture, handicrafts, and service industries. Farmers supply fresh produce to hotels and restaurants, while artisans sell baskets, jewelry, and textiles to tourists. “Every dollar a tourist spends has multiple layers of impact,” Dr. Sireh-Jallow said. “It supports jobs, creates demand for goods, and ultimately contributes to the stability of local communities.”
With continued focus on sustainable growth and community engagement, tourism remains a key driver of development for The Gambia, creating livelihoods and contributing to national prosperity.
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