Tour operators and some other associations in tourism industry on Saturday converged at the Tourist Development Area (TDA) to clean-up the beaches as part of the monthly environmental sanitation. This cleansing exercise was initiated by Thomas, Cook Northern Europe grand tour operator.

Thomas Cook Northern Europe is an international grand tour operator that ply The Gambia twice in a week throughout the season.  A healthy environment is necessary for our workplace; could be shops, market, private or public offices. This ensures effective and effecient productivity and a secured livelihood. This has warranted the tour operators in collaboration with The Gambia Tourism Authority tour guide associations, fruit and craft vendors, taxi drivers operating within TDA to clean the beaches at Cape Point, Kotu, Senegambia, Bijilo, Brufut among other areas.

Abdou Corr, a staff of Thomas Cook Northern Europe said, they decided to clean all the tourism areas so that their clients will continue to enjoy the beautiful Gambia. He said it is another way to answer to the call of the president for  keeping our environment clean. “Cleaning TDA is very important because it is one of the best things we have in The Gambia, so we have to maintain it,” he noted.

Lotte Peterson, area manager, Thomas Cook Northern Europe said they decided to gather tour operators, hotels, GTA craft and fruit vendors and everyone who has something to do with tourism for this cleansing excercise because the beaches are the biggest assets that Gambia has. “If it is well cleaned,  it will create good impression to the tourists who visit The Gambia and other users of the beach,” Lotte Peterson said.

She therefore challenged the hotel operators and users of the beaches to create awareness of keeping the beach clean. Lotte Peterson expressed delight over the turn out for this exercise. “I am very happy about this cleaning, the support is very impressed. We are hopeful that our local partners and The Gambian people will continue to do this.”

Kaliba Senghore, Permanent Secretary at the department of state for Culture and Tourism said they are trying to make the beach and the environment friendlier to visitors of The Gambia. He said “this is an initiative from the tour operators as part of their efforts to make TDA clean and appealing to visitors. They have done it, others should emulate them.” He added that one of the basic and tenets of environmental friendliness is to look at the social and economic dimension. The PS was very much delighted about the turn up  for the exercise.

Charbel Hobeika, managing director of Gambia Tours and chairman of Tour and Travel Association said this is the first time to gather some people from the tourism industry together for a cleansing exercise. He said in future they will do it better by mobilising more people to participate. He said the beach is for everyone and it is the biggest asset of The Gambia. “We have beautiful beaches that we have to keep tidy which is one of the ways we can attract our clients to come down and enjoy our sand, sea and sun,” he said.

He added that it is necessary that we take care of what we have, more especially now that “the world is facing economic crisis which makes tourism difficult.” He added Ebrima Cham, Kotu craft market president and other vendors all applauded this initiative.