Gambia Tourism Board

In the framework of the Global Tourism Plastics Initiative, the Gambia Tourism Board commits to:

• Stimulating elimination of problematic or unnecessary plastic packaging and/or items by working with partners and stakeholders in the tourism sector and through sensitisation and introduction of new policy.
• Encouraging reuse models where relevant, to reduce the need for single-use plastic packaging and/or items, through close collaboration with local councils and actors and players in the local economy to accelerate efforts that foster the reuse of plastics.
• Promoting/incentivising the use of reusable, recyclable, or compostable plastic packaging and/or items by championing efforts for introducing an incentive program rewarding actors and stakeholders with innovative approaches to tackling plastic pollution. Milestones will include the introduction of compostable plastic in the tourism sector before the end of 2025.
• Supporting initiatives that aim at increasing collection, sorting, reuse, and recycling rates, and facilitating the establishment of the necessary infrastructure and related funding mechanisms through implementing pilots in select hotels and using the results of the pilots to inform policy and regulations for the expansion of sustainable waste management in the tourism sector and beyond.
• Support initiatives that aim at increasing demand for recycled content in plastic packaging and/or items through collaboration with regional bodies to conduct small-scale pilots as recycling of waste, specifically plastic waste, is almost non-existent in the country.
• Promoting the engagement of travellers on recycling and reuse throughout their journey by developing engaging content in close collaboration with tour operators to inform and educate tourists on sustainable travel. By the end of 2025, the Board envisages a 20% increase in travellers with increased environmental awareness.
• Collaborating with the private sector, NGOs, and other destinations towards achieving the vision and objectives of the GTPI. The commitments in this initiative are cross cutting and as such the Gambia Tourism Board will work closely with other agencies and partners for the achievement of these goals. The Board will work towards the establishment of a national working group coordinating the efforts of all agencies and organisations working towards environmental protection, especially in and around the coast.
• Publicly reporting and communicating on progress of the implementation of commitments annually.