By Landing Colley
Honorable Hamat Bah, Minister of Tourism and Culture has defended his ministry’s all-inclusive package on tourism in the country saying it is unavoidable and must be regulated.
Mr Bah was responding to questions at the National Assembly on Wednesday that “there is no study conducted but the Ministry already has plan not only to conduct a study but to see how they can regulate all-inclusive so that it does not impact negatively on small scale dealers, operators and other tourism industry.”
“The all-inclusive is unavoidable but must be regulated in this country. It is important for government to make sure that we accept all-inclusive and take in to account the impact and negative effect it will have on other operation,” he added.
According to him, 60% of the world tourism booking are all-inclusive saying if they dismiss the all-inclusive, they kill the industry but if it is regulated it can be managed.
But Banjul south lawmaker, Fatoumatta Njai disagreed with the Minister as she said: “that is really sad to accept that no study has been made yet they call it success and if 60% of the world are doing all-inclusive that does not mean is the best.”
She argued that it is not the best as it has effect on smaller business.
She asked “What is the Ministry doing to make sure that it is the best for the economics of this country rather than looking at what 60% of the world are doing and why this government should accept this all-inclusive?”
In in response to that, Honorable Bah said “We are aware of the negative of all-inclusive, if it is not regulated and we are also aware that if it regulated it can make a big difference in our economic, in our job creation and in the promotion of tourism sector.”