2 minutes reading time
(396 words)
Responsible development of the Ninki Nanka Trail in The Gambia
The Ninki Nanka Trail is a Gambian initiative that aims to pioneer a responsible approach to
community-based tourism in rural communities along The River Gambia, bringing together a wide
range of stakeholders and communities. In is envisaged that the trail will benefit the local
community and wider destination in a number of ways such as creating additional livelihoods
through tourism for rural communities, demonstrating and pioneering responsible tourism practices
that can be rolled out in managing other destinations in The Gambia, raising awareness of the local
cultural diversity and natural and cultural heritage, providing a more sustainable alternative to the
countries sun, sand and sea offer, and creating more mutually beneficially encounters between
tourists and local people.
In practice a responsible approach to planning and product development has been adopted for the
trail which has engaged local communities, tour operators and other stakeholders right from the
start. As part of the process those involved at various stages have carried out impact assessments,
market research, participatory interpretation planning to capture the different stories along the trail,
responsible tour operator and guide training, development of a code of conduct and product
catalogue for local tour operators who meet responsible tourism criteria, pilot trips with students
from Leeds Beckett University and other adventurous guests, industry FAM trips, community
capacity building and product development training, collaborative branding and boat safety training.
community-based tourism in rural communities along The River Gambia, bringing together a wide
range of stakeholders and communities. In is envisaged that the trail will benefit the local
community and wider destination in a number of ways such as creating additional livelihoods
through tourism for rural communities, demonstrating and pioneering responsible tourism practices
that can be rolled out in managing other destinations in The Gambia, raising awareness of the local
cultural diversity and natural and cultural heritage, providing a more sustainable alternative to the
countries sun, sand and sea offer, and creating more mutually beneficially encounters between
tourists and local people.
In practice a responsible approach to planning and product development has been adopted for the
trail which has engaged local communities, tour operators and other stakeholders right from the
start. As part of the process those involved at various stages have carried out impact assessments,
market research, participatory interpretation planning to capture the different stories along the trail,
responsible tour operator and guide training, development of a code of conduct and product
catalogue for local tour operators who meet responsible tourism criteria, pilot trips with students
from Leeds Beckett University and other adventurous guests, industry FAM trips, community
capacity building and product development training, collaborative branding and boat safety training.
There have inevitably been some challenges and there is a lot more work to do but the trail has
come a long way – starting with a group of pioneering volunteers from the Institute of Travel and
Tourism of the Gambia (ITTOG), Leeds Beckett University and the Gambia Tourism Board who
considered the potential impacts, developed new product itineraries and started planning a way
forward with communities and the industry. More recently development of the trail accelerated
with some funding from the International Trade Centre and the incredible Ninki Nanka Trail
community-based tourism experiences were about to be officially launched by The Gambia Tourism
Board at ITB this year…but unfortunately this didn't happen due to COVID-19. However, the trail has
already been launched by the Gambia Tourism Board and their partners in The Gambia – see Press
release – and plans for this exciting new responsible tourism destination should resume when the
tourism industry opens up again, including the very special annual Kankurang Festival 2020 at
come a long way – starting with a group of pioneering volunteers from the Institute of Travel and
Tourism of the Gambia (ITTOG), Leeds Beckett University and the Gambia Tourism Board who
considered the potential impacts, developed new product itineraries and started planning a way
forward with communities and the industry. More recently development of the trail accelerated
with some funding from the International Trade Centre and the incredible Ninki Nanka Trail
community-based tourism experiences were about to be officially launched by The Gambia Tourism
Board at ITB this year…but unfortunately this didn't happen due to COVID-19. However, the trail has
already been launched by the Gambia Tourism Board and their partners in The Gambia – see Press
release – and plans for this exciting new responsible tourism destination should resume when the
tourism industry opens up again, including the very special annual Kankurang Festival 2020 at
Janjanbureh.
