By: Kebba Ansu Manneh
Regular visitor to The Gambia has called on Gambian Government to reconsider the waiving of the newly instituted security tariff imposed on customers using the Banjul International Airport.
They made the calls less than one week after the country received its first batch of 147 tourists for the 2020/2021 tourists season courtesy of Gambia Experience.
According to them, the new tariff that compel both incoming and outgoing passengers to pay D1000 emphasizing that the payment is misplaced priority especially that the tourism industry has suffered enough during the cause of the global pandemic,.
“This tariff will also scare potential visitors to lure for other destinations that are not imposing security fees,” they said.
Sean Smith a regular visitor with fourteen (14) years’ experience in the country also married to a Gambian observed that, airport security for any country is solely the duty of that country to provide security to their visitors.
Smith has contributed to the economy development by the establishment of a nursery school at Ndemban Village in Foni, Berefit District.
According to him, the new changes at the airport will go a long way to influence travelers decision in visiting the country, adding that many tourists will rather like to visit countries that are not imposing such charges while entering or leaving the country.
He further urged the government to step-up efforts to address the pressing environmental issues associated with overfishing and pollution along the coastal belt of the country, expressing his utmost disappointment to seeing split oil in the water that usually results to death of fish and bird that inhabits the ecology of the coastal area. “I have been coming to Gambia for 14 years, my wife and son are Gambians.
I arrived from UK on 28th November for 6 months holidays. Personally, I find it very expensive to fly to Gambia now, cheap flights have gone since Thomas Cook no longer flying” said David Pask also a 14years old visitor.
According to him, an average flight to Gambia is £600 excluding £200 for covid test which is expensive for most potential visitors, arguing that Banjul International airport charges of D1000 dalassi for arrival and departure is the worst nightmare tourist will encounter as their first impression in the country.
“Tourists already paid much tax to come and it is too much for some, the exchange rate is poor on the international money exchange market, its D69, yet Gambia is only paying D62, which of course, is at a very bad rate. The government needs to encourage tourists to come to this country but not to price them out of the market,” he said.
He pointed out the Gambia Government need to reconsider its decision on the security levy charges, saying that it could force many potential tourists to fly other places.