Updated
August 23, 2007

Gambia Tourist Support
1997 - GTS EcoTourism - 2008
Responsibility

Holidays are expensive and over far too soon, you return home with photos, souvenirs and memories.
Sexually transmitted diseases are increasing, please don't leave one behind you or take one home with you !!

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Avoiding HIV & AIDS

The way tourists behave is the responsability of the operator who introduces tourists to local communities in The Gambia.

But few do more than issue a booklet, & the subject is seldom mentioned in holiday briefings where selling expensive tours makes more economic sense, than preserving the community visited.

Take photos not liberties

EcoTourism is also responsible tourism. The power held by the tourist due to their comparative wealth should not be used to corrupt or exploit the people in the poorer country they are visiting.

Most of us go on holiday for the sun, sand and a different place in the world to see and experience, just a few go to exploit, which often means sexual exploitation.

Prostitution is present in most societies but where the visitors are comparatively rich, both male and female locals are tempted to be bought because it is easy money. The tourist often never knows if this is a genuine affection or if the attraction is just their money, unfortunately some tourist don't care.

People from different cultures do fall in love and holidays are often the starting point, but just a few words of warning. The difficulties likely to be experienced are, cultural, religious, economic background, language, distance and customs.

Like all relationships, many start brilliantly well, but sadly, few last because the starting difference between the couples are just too great for the gap to be bridged and sustained. In the end, often the richer and older European feels that they are the one who has been exploited, because of the money and resources they have contributed to maintain the relationship.

This is a situation now exploited by many Gambians around the holiday resorts, a tourist can be a passport to Europe and an income for their family back home - many are already married with children, but a European provides a good income.

It's a situation as old as poverty, people with very little of anything will prostitute themselves for what they can make from the relationship.

If you want to help, then give willingly, don't make promises you can't or won't keep and keep things platonic - old fashioned advice in a promiscuous western age.

Generally in Gambia, the attitude to sex is relaxed, some of the young are promiscous especially those following tourists, there is an African respect for women but little respect for women who are 'easy' and unfortunately some tourists are both easy and foolish.

Aids is now so prevalent in West Africa that the British Blood Transfusion Service will not take your blood if you have had a sexual relationship with a 'local' during your visit. GTS hopes that you behave with responsibility towards the local Gambians and to yourself.

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