The Republic of Gambia is inserted - like a sword - into the Republic of Senegal territory; alongside the Gambia river. The country forms a narrow stretch of land from the coast to about 400 kilometers inland, varying in width from about 50 kilometers near the coast to less than 35 kilometers inland. It expands over an area of 11,300 sq. Km - Gambia river accounting for 1,300 sq km. It has 740 km length border with Senegal and 80 km coastline.

Population: 1,336,320 (July 1999); 1,501,050 (July 2003 est.) Growth rate: 3.35% (1999). 3.03% (2003 est.) About 80 percent of the population live in rural areas.

Independence from United Kingdom February 18, 1965
National holiday: Independence Day 18 February

The Gambia only natural resource is fish; it has no important mineral deposits and only 18 % of the land is arable on which 80% of the population survive on subsistence agriculture: peanuts, millet, sorghum, rice, corn, cassava (tapioca), palm kernels; livestock: cattle, sheep, goats. Forest and fishery resources are not fully exploited.

Industry is based on small-scale manufacturing activity: processing of peanuts, fish, and hides.

Services - mainly reexport trade to Senegal and other West-African countries - used to be the most important economic activit.However, the devaluation of the CFA franc in January 1994 made Senegalese goods more competitive and hurt the reexport trade.

Investment opportunities are available in air and sea transport services linking the Gambia and the sub-region to enhance trade as well as facilitate supply sources of raw material inputs for the industries. Similarly, investment in river transportation linking Banjul and up-country will facilitate movement of goods and people to urban centers.

In 1976 Alex Palmer Haley (1925-1992) - biographer, scriptwriter, author - published his famous novel ROOTS, which traces his ancestry back to Africa and covers seven American generations..

The novel was followed by Roots' television miniseries (January 23 - January 30, 1977) which attracted some 130 million American viewers - the largest audience up to then - and triggered the attention, cultural revival, emotional feelings and behaviors of African-Americans about Africa in general and The Gambia in particular - the territory from which Haley's great-great-great-great-grandfather - Kunta Kinte - was originated from. Consequently, a constant tourism flow started between the United States of America and Gambia.

Therefore, since 1978, the successive governments of The Gambia are committed to an orderly development and expansion of the sector of tourism; to include cultural and eco-tourism in order to maximize the benefits.

In this regard, the expansion of infrastructures to designated tourism development areas including natural forest parks, land marks and monuments of cultural significance, are considered under the sector's development strategy. Effective marketing and promotional strategies for the U.S.A. and other European markets is implemented since mid 1994.

The government of the Gambia made important economic and legal reforms: liberalization of foreign exchange, divestiture and privatization of parastatals, reforms in key institutions providing support services to tile private sector and liberalization of business activities.

Reexport trade normally constitutes a major segment of economic activity - accounting highly for the great percentage of Services in the GDP - 67% (2000), but a 1999 government-imposed preshipment inspection plan, instability of the Gambian dalasi - Click here for equivalence - and the stable political situation in Senegal drawn some of the reexport trade away from Banjul.

The introduction of a new "foreigners tax" in The Gambia has led to many foreigners fleeing the country. Click here for a Jammeh wants change of attitude from Gambians

For updated news on The Gambia Click here

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GNP: US$ 130 million (2000); US$ 137.41 (2001); 289 million (2002 est.))
GNP- growth rate: 4.9% (2000); 3 % (2001)
GNP-per capita: US$ 87(2000); US$ 192 (2002)

Click here for the difference between GNP and Parity Purchasing

GNP-composition by sector

1. agriculture: 21%
   

2. industry: 12%
   
3. services: 67%

Exports: US$ 125.8 million (f.o.b., 2000); 138 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Commodities: peanuts and peanut products, fish, cotton lint, palm kernels.
Imports: US$ 202.5 million (f.o.b.,2000); 225 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Commodities: foodstuffs, manufactures, raw materials, fuel, machinery and transport equipment.

FOR CURRENCY EQUIVALENCE CLICK HERE

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A passport and visa are required. Travelers are urged to obtain the latest information on customs and entry requirements. Below listed are some Gambia's embassies and representative offices. .

The Permanent Secretary for Tourism Tel: +(220) 228496; +(220) 227881 Fax: +(220) 227753	USA Embassy of The Gambia, Suite 1000, 1155 15th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20005, Tel: +(1) 202 785-1399 +(1) 202 785-1359
France Embassy of the Gambia 117 Rue Saint Lazare 75008, Paris Tel: +(33) 1 42 94 09 30 Fax: +(33) 1 42 94 11 91	Saudi Arabia The Gambia Embassy P.O. Box 94322 Riyadh 11693 Tel: +(966) 1 465 9996 Fax: +(966) 1 495 5958 Telex: 406767 GAMEXT SJ

Getting to The Gambia from Europe during the main tourist season, November - April, is easy and simple.from UK and Northern Europe. Click here for more.

Charter flights are available from most European countries. Local and regional flights are organized by Air-Gambia and Air-Senegal

Reexport trade from the port of Banjul normally constitutes a major segment of economic activity - accounting highly for the great percentage of Services in the GNP - 67% (2000), but a 1999 government-imposed preshipment inspection plan, instability of the Gambian dalasi - Click here for equivalence - and the stable political situation in Senegal have drawn some of the reexport trade away from Banjul.

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Below listed are very few hotel addresses. For more information please contact The Gambia National Tourist Office Click here for Tourism Office Website