THE GAMBIA OFFICIAL TOURIST GUIDES

The Gambia Official Tourist Guides Scheme was established in 1997 in consultations with all tourism stakeholders.

A group of young and talented youths were recruited and trained to be freelance tour guides with a  strict code of conduct to show visitors around the and gives them a real feel of Gambian  experience.

The objectives of the scheme are to improve visitor experience by enhancing guest-host encounters, improve economic livelihood development and create jobs to reduce poverty and minimize hassling of tourists.

They are found outside of most hotels around the TDA are licensed by the Gambia Tourism Authority based on well established code of Conduct.

The services they render should compliment and not compete with those of the established Ground Tour Operators.

The Role of the Official Tour Guide

1.   To Guide tourists around the community
2.    To provide tourist with information concerning our social/cultural heritage
3.    To promote the country
4.    To encourage more professionalism amongst local youth in terms of guiding and contact with tourists
5.    To facilitate the exchange of information between stakeholders within the industry
6.    To reduce hassle and increase the security of tourists


The Operations of the Official Tourist Guides should be based on the following codes of conduct.

Ø    GTA approval must be granted before somebody can become an Official Tourists Guides

Ø    Guides should be provided with a uniform and badge which is to be worn at all times when on duty.

Ø    A neat and tidy appearance and attention to personal hygiene is essential at all times and never be under the influence of alcohol or drugs

Ø    They should work under the direction of the controllers who are located at each hotel area.

Ø    A log should be kept of all Official Tourist Guide's movements i.e. in/out log system.

Ø    Official Tourists Guides must allow the Tourist to approach their own controller rather than approach the Tourist individually. Calling after and harassing tourists is not allowed.

Ø    The controller will operate a register of guides, duties allocated, time out and time of return which will be available for inspection upon request.

Ø    Guides will only offer individual guiding services i.e. third party payment such as entrance fees and transport cost, taxi fares or otherwise are not part of their terms of reference

Ø    Guides will operate a self-policing system linked to their code of conduct


Ø    Guides will have their own office, which should be their secretariat.

Ø    Official Tourist Guides should have a sub-committee, which will be mandated to monitor the activities of all OTGs of each station.

Ø    The Manager Tourism Human Resources at the GTA will assume ultimate responsibility for coordinating a response to incidents and complaints.
Ø    New tour operator Reps shall be invited by GTA and have explained to them the guidelines and given the information materials about the guides and the principles of responsible tourism.

Ø    Codes of Conduct will be available to guests and they will be asked to report any non-compliance to their Tour operator or GTA in writing

Ø    All promotional materials used by the OTGs must be approved by GTA

Ø    The controllers will make a monthly report to GTA summarizing positive and negative incidents

Ø    A tariff board will be clearly displayed at each station indicating tariff on hourly, daily, and waiting time etc.