The Executive Director of the National Environment Agency, Mr. Momodou Sarr has buttressed the need for collective efforts to promote tourism in the country, stressing that the best strategy to attract tourists is by protecting and maintaining the environment at all times.
Speaking in an interview with our reporter recently, Momodou Sarr noted that there is need to encourage tourism since the Anti-Littering Bill is geared towards the promotion of tourism.
He asserted that Gambians have the potential to give a very good impression about our visitors in a bid to attract them to invest in the country.
Noting that tourism can bring foreign exchange to the country, he said it is one of the biggest foreign exchange earners.
According to the NEA Boss, The Gambia have a good advantage over many countries in Africa in the area of tourism, adding that the more we attract them, the more benefits we can derive from it.
But he was quick to add that tourism is important for a country, provided that they are well managed and controlled.
He pointed out that in any given country tourism is among the biggest sector, and thus urged for close collaboration of all Gambians to ensure that our environment is well protected and clean.
He called on the public to understand that environmental laws are not out to harass anybody instead it is here purposely to promote good health and clean environment.
"The law is not out to make life difficult for anybody," he said.
He noted that when the Bill was passed in 2007, there were difficulties with the enforcement due to the fact that there was no Magistrate Court to take care of cases of offenders. He urged the public to comply with the Anti- Littering Bill for the interest of all Gambians.
