The Gambia Tourism Authority, as you aware, sponsors a
weekly radio programme on West Coast Radio called "The Tourist". The purpose of
the programme is to sensitise Gambians on thematic issues affecting the sector.
The topic of discussion last Wednesday was tourism and the media. How the media
and the tourism industry can team up to increase the awareness and the
significance of the tourism industry in The Gambia. On the side of the media,
three guest speakers were called to represent their various media houses, Daily Observer Newspaper, The Point Newspaper and Foroyaa Newspaper respectively.
In his welcoming address, The producer Mr Ousman Kebbeh thanked the media for the wonderful contribution in sensitising the general public in tourism awareness. He called on the media to work hand in hand with The Gambia Tourism Authority especially on issues relating to sex tourists exploiting children. Mr Kebba looked at the new developments in the tourism sector, what The Gambia can gain at international events like Mboka 2008. How the media and the Tourism industry can team up to increase the general awareness and the significance of the industry in The Gambia. The programme is proudly sponsored by The Gambia Tourism Authority.
Looking at the issue of sex tourists exploiting children, many of the girls involved come from deprived socio-economic backgrounds, have dropped out of school or have been uprooted from rural areas and lost the protection of their extended families. According to a report issued by Bakary Badjie, programme officer with the non- profit coalition the Child Protection Alliance CPA, Sexual relations between children and tourists are shifting from hotels, deeper into communities, where it is harder to track.
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