The Gambia Tourism Authority (GTA) in collaboration with the Tourism Security Unit (TSU) Friday organised a one-day session with tourism stakeholders to discuss on issues relating to tourism and the TSU's plans for the 2010/2011 Tourism Season, as well as to address the issue of safety and security of tourists visiting The Gambia. The programme was held at the Ocean Bay Hotel in Bakau. Addressing the gathering, Binta Jobe, the director general of the GTA expressed delight at the turnout of the entire tourism fraternity from both the formal and informal sectors. She explained that the forum will also provide participants the opportunity to talk on hassling issues and other vices that could become a threat to the future of tourism. "Safety and security are vital to providing quality in tourism. More than any other economic activity, the success or failure of a tourism destination depends on how we are able to provide a safe and secure environment for visitors. By its very nature, tourism is a global and intensely competitive industry and tourists have options to visit other destinations than come to The Gambia. "As a result, tourism is highly sensitive to perceptions of danger and lack of safety and security. It is in this context that lack of safety and security and incidence of crime represent a more serious threat to travel and tourism than any other negative factor," she said. According to her, The Gambia's enviable perception as being a relatively peaceful and safe destination is among its major assets as a tourist destination. "It is a factor that has served the region well and is expected to remain with us in the future," she noted. The GTA boss expressed concern over the crime rate in the Tourism Development Area (TDA) that are being reported on a daily basis and the issue of visitor harassment, which also impacts on the tourists' sense of safety.
via allafrica.com
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