Ecotourism in the Gambia and any other
African country is an economic development tool that involves bringing local
communities and visitors (tourists) together in an environmentally friendly
way. This intervention for us has many benefits; among them, the preservation of native lands, increase in
local employment and providing funds for continued conservation. Our
plan in Ecotorism will encourage positive experience for visitors as well as the
host communities and minimise the impact if tourism on the environment. Most
importantly, the activities will create employment and financial opportunities
for local communities and encourages conservation, providing financial benefits
to communities to maintain the ecosystem. Our plan activities in the Gambia
will engage rural communities to preserve
their local natural surroundings, culture and promotes livelihood for the local
people. We know that most European countries earn more than 75 per cent
of their revenue from forests through eco-tourism rather than from cutting down
forests and selling the timber and we can do the same in African countries.