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Eco-Tourism Case Study: Footsteps, The Gambia
‘Footsteps’ is an ecotourism destination in The Gambia. It is built in the style of a
traditional African village compound, with nine accommodation huts. It is located
close to the village of Gunjur and is open all year round. Most of the tourists come
from the UK.
Environmental sustainability
-electricity from wind and sun
-its own vegetable garden reducing transport of products
-composting toilets
-hot water in showers only lasts 5 mins conserving water
-solar powered pump to fill water tanks
-water used by guests and hotel is collected and used for irrigation for fruit and
gardens
-swimming pool water is filtered through reed beds
Social Sustainability
-guests can watch local women tie dye material and see how a Jembe drum is made
and buy these products
-the lodge informs guests about local markets so they can buy straight from the local
people themselves ensuring all money remains in the pockets of local people
-company employs all their staff from local village not HICs
- empolyees are paid for the whole year
-Local Gambians receive job training and opportunities for promotion in Footsteps or
the wider tourism industry
-Employees get medical and dental care
Economic Sustainability
-leakages reduced through use of local employees, local craftsmen, local building
materials
-purchase of local foods for visitors
-employees paid all year
2.
Choose an eco-tourist destination you have studied.
Explain how eco-tourism can benefit the local community at this
destination.
[6]
Chosen destination ..............................................................................
Well received by the majority of candidates. The Gambia proved to be the most
successful case study, with candidates writing confidently about specifics, backed up
with explanation. Weaker answers focused too much on general ideas about the
characteristics of eco-tourism. They did not concentrate enough on the benefits to
the local community.
‘Footsteps’ is an ecotourism destination in The
Gambia. It is built in the style of a traditional African
village compound, with nine accommodation huts. It is
located close to the village of Gunjur and is open all
year round.
Guests can watch local women tie dye material and
see how a Jembe drum is made and buy these
products, this helps to provide an income and
employment for the local community. In addition the
lodge informs guests about local markets so they can
buy straight from the local people themselves ensuring
all money remains in the pockets of local people
The company employs all their staff from local village
not HICs meaning that none of the profits are ‘leaked’
out of the local area and employees are paid for the
whole year whereas normal tourism work is usually
seasonal.
Employees get medical and dental care provided for
them which is something they can not always afford.
This improves the health of the local community as a
whole.