Tourism Impacts Gambian Water Supply: Report

DONATE TO JOLLOFNEWS

Tourism Impacts Gambian Water Supply: Report

Tuesday, 10 July 2012 12:09

(VOA) – Unregulated water consumption at tourist resorts in Gambia threatens water access and livelihoods of the country’s residents, according to a report released Monday by the U.K.-based group Tourism Concern.

Rachel Noble, the organization’s head of policy and research, said one of the biggest problems facing the West African country’s water supply is that tourism resorts, which consume vastly larger amounts of water than Gambians, are not properly monitored or regulated. Since normal channels of water access are not dependable, large hotels along the coast often build their own bore holes to fill up reservoirs.

“The problem is that, generally, this water is considered free, and it’s considered unlimited, which means that people aren’t paying for what they consume,” said Noble. “A vast majority of the [water] meters in the hotel are found not to be working, so hotels are paying the same amount regardless of their occupation level.”

A water-vendor collects water in jerrycans to sell in the Mathare slum, Nairobi. (Photo: AFP)

Tourism is one of Gambia’s biggest economic engines and Noble said the problem needs to be addressed in a way that will be best for both the industry and the country’s residents.

“It’s [tourism] vital for a country that’s trying to lift itself out of poverty,” she said. “But our key concerns relate to the way that tourism is being developed – lack of planning, lack of regulation, lack of awareness about water resources along the coast where tourism is located.”

The Tourist Development Area takes up 15 kilometers of the coastline, which constitutes almost two-thirds of the small nation’s beachfront property.

According to Noble, there are many steps that need to be taken to address the issue. One is that the Gambian government should create a new water authority, although Noble said private industry must play a role too, especially in Gambia, where the government has a reputation for stifling opposition.

“It also puts an added responsibility on international hotels and tour operators operating in the Gambia. They need to be aware of these local contexts where local people, if they are being adversely affected, they might not be able to speak without fearing some kind of negative reprisal,” she said.

In 2010, tourism made up around 16 percent of Gambia’s gross domestic product with more than 91,000 visitors vacationing in the country.
Written by Ricci Shryock
Rachel Noble, head of policy and research at Tourism Concern talks about water access in Gambia

Comments

0 #4 2013-02-17 16:54

Hi All,

Guys, you are right is the next oil boom in Africa. It is the time to get rid off of all old ways such as Wells, rigs and other old methods of getting access to safe drinking water.
I am the Director of Africa for MAC WATER Technologies, Inc. we have Solar powered water treatment systems. Please visit our website www.macwatertech.com or contact me at asambou@macwate rtech.com for more information. My number is 00-1-314-441-9414.
Best Regards,
Abdoulaye Sambou

Quote

+3 #3 2012-07-11 12:40

Tourism is still a big contributor to the economy...And so whilst efforts must be made to encourage and expand it,measures must also be put in place to stop the industry from harming the country...

There may be abundant surface and underground water in The Gambia,but that doesn't excuse government's failure to regulate the use of private bore-holes by these local service providers...

I find it very troubling that vast amounts of water could be used without being paid for or even monitored as the broken meters cannot indicate this...

The Dept.of Water Resources,Touri sm and NAWEC needs to work together to correct this situation...

It is unfair that whilst domestic consumers are paying for their water,commercia l ventures,like local Tourism Resorts,are not paying for what they are consuming..

Quote

+1 #2 2012-07-10 19:33

Folks, Gambia has plenty of quality water. I have an article on parts of African countries with a reservoir of quality water and Gambia, is one of those countries mentioned. Water is going to be the next oil boom according to the article. I would like to know how the research, for the above story was made.

Quote

-2 #1 2012-07-10 15:05

It is untrue that tourism contributes a lot to the Gambian Economy; The Gambian Diaspora has overridden that 10 years ago. The only think that Tourism largely contributes to is prostitution which is exploitation.

Quote

Refresh comments list
RSS feed for comments to this post.