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Effect of Icelandic volcano hits Gambian craft industry
Tuesday, 20 April 2010 21:00
By Abdoulie JohnAs a tourist destination Gambia is among the African countries that have been severely hit by the Iceland volcanic eruption which has brought to a virtual stop flights across mainly Europe. The cancellation of flights due to this natural phenomenon has left the informal sector devastated as the arrival of tourists drastically jumped down. Consequently, the atmosphere prevailing in
the country’s craft markets is more than pathetic; that is, if the testimonies of people direct hit are to be taken into account. “We are profoundly affected by the cancellation of flights from Europe. Since last week I return home empty-handed every day. Tourists are becoming a rare sight in our craft market,” said A. Joof, a vendor at the Senegambia craft market, located in the Tourist Development Area (TDA) in Kololi. ‘‘If this continues without any salutary alternative, one can expect many people to close down their shops”.
Adding his voice to the chorus of recriminations, an officer of the Gambia Tourism Authority (GTA) told Jollof News that “there is no doubt that this problem will have negative effects on the tourist season.”
And he added: “We are yet to analyze its real impacts, but echoes from the sector have it that hopes are being shattered. We only pray that European airline companies will resume flights as soon as possible!”
Even with the minimum prevailing expectations that some flights will resume this week, the industry workers are likely to see their income declining this month. There is a clear risk that without government mitigating measures, which are yet to be announced, the crisis will prove long lasting for many of them.
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