The tourism industry today in the Gambia started when a party of 300 Swedish tourists arrived in 1965.[1] That pioneering trip was organised by a Swede named Bertil Harding together with the tour operators Vingresor. It was seen as an ideal place to escape the harsh winter months of Scandinavia where Europeans would enjoy not only sun, sand and beaches but also experience the excitement of a real African holiday. It also offered a new opening for an affordable holiday to increasing numbers of traveling Europeans.
The number of visitors increased from 300 tourists in 1965 to 25,000 visitors in 1976.[2] The number of tourists has continued to rise sharply throughout the years, and as the government is eager to diversify the economy, it recognised tourism as a potential major foreign exchange source of revenue. However, despite increasing popularity as a tourist destination, infrastructure development has been slow.
Banjul, which is the capital city of the Gambia, is a popular area for tourists. The population of the city is only 34,828, with the Greater Banjul Area, which includes the City of Banjul and the Kanifing Municipal Council, having a population of 357,238 (2003 census). It is located on St Mary's Island (Banjul Island) where the Gambia River enters the Atlantic Ocean. The island is connected to the mainland by passenger and vehicle ferries to the north and bridges to the south. Banjul is located at 13°28' North, 16°36' West (13.4667, -16.60).[3]
Jufurehedit
Jufureh, Juffureh, or Juffure is a town in the Gambia that is popular with tourists, lying 30 km inland on the north bank of the River Gambia in the North Bank Division. It is said to be where Alex Haley's novel Roots: The Saga of an American Family is set. It is home to a museum and lies near James Island. A family claiming to be the descendants of Kunta Kinte still resides here.[4]
The Kachikally crocodile pool is located in the heart of Bakau about 10 miles (16 km) from the capital Banjul. It is one of three sacred crocodile pools used as sites for fertility rituals.[5] The others are Folonko in Kombo South and Berending on the north bank.
Janjanburehedit
Janjanbureh or Jangjangbureh is a town, founded in 1732, on Janjanbureh Island in the River Gambia in eastern Gambia. It was formerly known as Georgetown and was the second largest in the country. It is now the capital of the Central River Division and is best known as home to Gambia's main prison. The Wassu stone circles lie 22 km northwest of Lamin Koto, on the north bank across from Janjanbureh. It is one of Gambia's more popular tourist destinations.[6]
^(PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2019-12-11. Retrieved 2016-12-13.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
October 31, 2023
tourism, gambia, tourism, industry, today, gambia, started, when, party, swedish, tourists, arrived, 1965, that, pioneering, trip, organised, swede, named, bertil, harding, together, with, tour, operators, vingresor, seen, ideal, place, escape, harsh, winter, . The tourism industry today in the Gambia started when a party of 300 Swedish tourists arrived in 1965 1 That pioneering trip was organised by a Swede named Bertil Harding together with the tour operators Vingresor It was seen as an ideal place to escape the harsh winter months of Scandinavia where Europeans would enjoy not only sun sand and beaches but also experience the excitement of a real African holiday It also offered a new opening for an affordable holiday to increasing numbers of traveling Europeans The number of visitors increased from 300 tourists in 1965 to 25 000 visitors in 1976 2 The number of tourists has continued to rise sharply throughout the years and as the government is eager to diversify the economy it recognised tourism as a potential major foreign exchange source of revenue However despite increasing popularity as a tourist destination infrastructure development has been slow Contents 1 Popular areas and attractions 1 1 Banjul 1 2 Jufureh 1 3 Kachikally crocodile pool 1 4 Janjanbureh 2 Visitor statistics 3 ReferencesPopular areas and attractions editBanjul edit Banjul which is the capital city of the Gambia is a popular area for tourists The population of the city is only 34 828 with the Greater Banjul Area which includes the City of Banjul and the Kanifing Municipal Council having a population of 357 238 2003 census It is located on St Mary s Island Banjul Island where the Gambia River enters the Atlantic Ocean The island is connected to the mainland by passenger and vehicle ferries to the north and bridges to the south Banjul is located at 13 28 North 16 36 West 13 4667 16 60 3 Jufureh edit Jufureh Juffureh or Juffure is a town in the Gambia that is popular with tourists lying 30 km inland on the north bank of the River Gambia in the North Bank Division It is said to be where Alex Haley s novel Roots The Saga of an American Family is set It is home to a museum and lies near James Island A family claiming to be the descendants of Kunta Kinte still resides here 4 Kachikally crocodile pool edit nbsp BakauThe Kachikally crocodile pool is located in the heart of Bakau about 10 miles 16 km from the capital Banjul It is one of three sacred crocodile pools used as sites for fertility rituals 5 The others are Folonko in Kombo South and Berending on the north bank Janjanbureh edit Janjanbureh or Jangjangbureh is a town founded in 1732 on Janjanbureh Island in the River Gambia in eastern Gambia It was formerly known as Georgetown and was the second largest in the country It is now the capital of the Central River Division and is best known as home to Gambia s main prison The Wassu stone circles lie 22 km northwest of Lamin Koto on the north bank across from Janjanbureh It is one of Gambia s more popular tourist destinations 6 Visitor statistics editThis section is transcluded from Visa policy of the Gambia edit history Most visitors arriving to the Gambia for tourism purposes were from the following countries of nationality 7 Country 2012 nbsp United Kingdom 60 424 nbsp Netherlands 19 817 nbsp Nigeria 8 657 nbsp Sweden 8 107 nbsp Germany 7 076 nbsp Belgium 5 802 nbsp Spain 4 280 nbsp United States 4 058 nbsp Ireland 2 084 nbsp France 2 073References edit nbsp Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Gambia Background Note The Gambia Political Conditions United States Department of State Bureau of African Affairs 2006 03 Lonely Planet The Gambia amp Senegal Banjul Juffure Village Gambia Historic and Sacred Sites in Gambia Archived 2007 03 11 at the Wayback Machine Tourism in the Gambia cite note backgroundnote 0 Archived copy PDF Archived from the original PDF on 2019 12 11 Retrieved 2016 12 13 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint archived copy as title link Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Tourism in the Gambia amp oldid 1139911756, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
