Sex Tourism Gambia has a lot to offer. With many beautiful beaches and great restaurants, the country attracts tourists worldwide. However, the problem with the tourism industry in the Gambia is that there is little regulation of sex, which means it is possible to see sexual activity if you go to the wrong place. It is important to check the law of the country you plan to visit before you go.
Geriatric sex tourists
Sex tourists from the Global North travel to Gambia to engage in sexual encounters with local men. Those women are typically from the United Kingdom or the Netherlands. They are most often over 40 years old.
The Gambia is a small country with 2.5 million inhabitants. It gained independence from Britain in 1965. Despite the tourism industry, it is a poor nation with a high unemployment rate. Tourism accounts for around 20 percent of its GDP.
Sex tourism in The Gambia is based on cheap labor by young Gambian men. Young boys are motivated by low wages and a lack of employment opportunities. These impoverished men find pleasure in having sex with older women.
Gambia’s sex tourism industry rivals that of Thailand and Jamaica. However, the Gambia has a smaller female sex tourism market than male sex tourism. Unlike in other countries, these older women are largely from the Global North.
Many of these women have had failed marriages in their home countries. Moreover, European women have been lured to the Gambia because of its beautiful scenery and friendly hospitality.
The Gambia has received thousands of older women from the UK. A Channel 4 documentary, Sex on the Beach, has exposed the reality of the sex trade in this African nation.
Gambia’s authorities have made a public appeal against the sex trade. However, couples on a popular dating apps do not care about criticism. Some even talk about being arrested.
In June, the Gambia Tourism Board visited the United Kingdom to discuss the issue with numerous firms catering to higher-end tourists. Their intention was to break away from the image of package holidays and promote other attractions.
The Gambia is also known for its beaches. However, those beaches are used for sex trafficking. Females and children in the country are subject to forced labor.
Gambia’s sexual economies provide the economic opportunity for young men to engage in sexual encounters with older women. However, the government of The Gambia is looking to crack down on carefree sex.
Child sex tourists
Child sex tourism is a practice whereby tourists from abroad engage in sexual relations with people who are under the age of 18. It is carried out with the permission of the child’s parents if they are the ones who are bringing the tourists.
Children are at risk in many tourist destinations in the Gambia. A UNICEF report in 2003 found that tourists are abusing children.
In The Gambia, a number of tour operators promote services that facilitate sex tourism. However, most of the girls involved are not children and do not consider themselves as such. They do not understand their special protection because of their age.
Many of these girls are paid for their sex. For example, some receive gifts from tourists, and some are offered the payment of their school fees.
Child sex tourism is a problem in Gambia that is not well-known. There are few prosecutions for such crimes. This is large because of the lack of hard evidence.
In addition, there is a culture of silence in Gambia that prevents children from revealing abuse. This culture is particularly dangerous in the tourism industry, as it allows predators to hide in places such as hotels and motels.
Many people do not consider these tourist destinations safe, and the local population has turned a blind eye to them. Nevertheless, the fact remains that tourists are sexually abusing many children in Gambia.
ECPAT, an international non-governmental organization, supports children and youth in the Gambia. It conducts primary research and brings together information from different sectors in the country.
In The Gambia, the Gambian Police Force should develop a policy on child protection and provide training to members of the force on child protection. This would help identify the locations of abuse. Moreover, the government should collaborate with tour operators and other stakeholders.
The government should also investigate human trafficking. Prosecutors should be empowered to prosecute these cases. Furthermore, government officials should be trained on how to identify the victims of trafficking.
Female sex tourists
In recent years, Gambia has become a hot spot for sex tourism. This has become particularly common among European women. Many of these women have failed marriages in their home countries.
In The Gambia, sex tourism has become a big business, rivaling Thailand. According to a UNICEF report, the practice has grown considerably in recent years.
Sex tourism in the Gambia is mainly based on the cheap labor of young Gambian men. These men are sometimes called bumsters, and tourists often use them to meet girls. They offer sexual services to tourists and earn up to 2,000 Dalasi a day.
Some of these bumsters are immigrants from Sweden and Holland. Others work in the tourism industry. Despite their negative reputation, these young men play a positive role in Gambia’s tourism industry.
A lot of these local men have intimate relationships with female tourists. Often these interactions are arranged online before the tourist arrives.
Some of these tourists are older. Older women have often traveled to Gambia to develop relationships with young men. Most are from Europe. However, some are from Africa and may be underage.
Many of these young men see a relationship with an older, wealthy Western woman as an opportunity to improve their economic situation. It is also a chance for them to migrate to Europe.
The Gambia is a small West African nation. Its population is only 2.5 million. Consequently, the country relies on tourism. As such, it employs about 200,000 people. Tourism accounts for approximately 20 percent of the country’s GDP.
Tourism also brings in almost 20 percent of the country’s export earnings. The tourism industry has been affected by the global financial crisis. During this time, many holidays have been canceled. Luckily, the Gambia government has been attempting to change the country’s image and encourage sustainable tourism.
Although sex tourism in Gambia is illegal, the government has enacted measures to try and deter it. Some of these measures include the arrest of Gambians involved in the sexual economy.
Slavery in the Gambia
There is a rich history of slavery in The Gambia. This includes the story of Kunta Kinte, who was enslaved on the island. One in six of West Africa’s slaves came from this area.
The Gambia River was the first region of West Africa to be incorporated into the Atlantic slave trade. It would have been a crucial trade artery for Senegal and Mali.
As Europeans expanded their sphere of influence, they helped to undermine the old Mandinka order. Their rule over the region came to an end in the mid-19th century.
In the mid-1800s, the British and French imposed colonial rule over the region. They found enslaved people in the region and captured them. These enslaved people were then shipped to the Caribbean.
While the trans-Atlantic trade had virtually disappeared by the mid-19th century, the Gambia continued to be a center of trafficking. Thousands of enslaved people were taken to the sugar plantations of the Caribbean.
Although the Gambia is relatively small, the country is home to a wide range of ethnic groups. Most Gambians are Muslim. A few indigenous languages are also spoken. Currently, 80 percent of the population lives in rural villages.
Tourism is a major industry in The Gambia. The Gambia River Safari is a popular attraction. Visitors can ride on a boat that takes them back in time.
The Roots Museum and Slavery Museum in Gambia give a glimpse into the history of slavery in The Gambia. The museum also features a replica of a slave ship.
Another way to learn about the history of slavery in The Gambia is through the 1976 novel Roots. Alex Haley traces his family’s history back to the island where his great-grandfather was enslaved. His cousin still leads the community.
Despite the fact that the Gambia is a free and democratic nation, the caste system is very deep-rooted. The government must do everything it can to eliminate the caste system.
Recently, a Gambian-Denmark-based philanthropist has called on the Gambia-led government to address the issue of caste. He believes that the government should be willing to eliminate slavery throughout the central river region.
Referal: