Tourism and development challenges in the least developed countries: the case of The Gambia

Abstract

Although tourism has long been promoted on the basis of its potential contribution to development, attention has been focused more recently on the developmental role of tourism in least developed countries (LDCs). Not only are a number of LDCs currently achieving the world's highest growth rates in tourist arrivals, but it is claimed that tourism should be regarded as an integral element of their development policy. However, despite the apparently successful growth of tourism in many LDCs, wider economic growth and development has, in many cases, not occurred. Drawing on research in The Gambia, this paper explores the challenges to tourism-induced development in LDCs. It reveals that tourism is not immune to the factors that determine a county's LDC status but that, although claims of tourism's developmental role should be treated with caution, the economic contribution of tourism may be enhanced in a number of ways.