Feedback (Early March 2001)

GTS member safari's, Lamin started these with a trip to Senegal with Tony and Bec Delahaye's to the Niokolo-Koba National Park.

With Lamin pulling out, Foday has taken over, with many day trips for Jill & Duncan, Derek and Helen, Harold & Esther, Kisty and friends, Martin and Karen as well as safari trips up river with Cathy and Nigel, and even a trip to Dakar with Dean and Ellen members from America. The feedback since Foday took charge has been nothing but excellent with praise about GTS even from non members - and offers on their return of help and support. We are expecting feedback reports from Kirsty, Dean and Martin in the near future.

The website is now getting 250 hits a week BUT we definitely want more, this is the only way we get new members apart from word of mouth and as Martin a recent visitor said after staying in the Atlantic hotel in Banjul

As in a lot of countries it seemed to us that the tourist industry in Gambia is becoming less and less "good" for the local community with the growth of all inclusive and organized tours and the discouragement of reps to new visitors wanting to get out of the complex.
Quote: " You don't want to go out there its full of bumsters after your money, buy your water from the hotel"
It makes us sad to hear this kind of talk.
...Many did not even venture out and were even buying postcards and fruit through the bars of the hotel and not venturing onto the beach, a sad sight.

Martin and Karen thought the idea of GTS membership - linking tourists to reliable Gambian hosts before they even travel is very positive and helful initiative for the tourists and the local people.

Charitable works - May has been working hard sorting out children who need support and even small businesses that require small loans to get them going after some disaster has crippled them. We have had a number of £50 donations both in the UK and by non members who have heard about us or May and just dropped into the centre in Kololi.

Gap year enquiries are steadily coming in with loads more than the 4 places we have on offer - no one will be selected or rejected yet, it is a long time before November 2002 and lots of minds can be changed between then and now.

We think that the 3 or 6 month gap will be very popular and we are adding placements to the existing ones we have to try to meet that demand

I have tried to add new or update web pages on the site as often as possible and a visit to The British Museum who have just opened a permanent African gallery provided some inspiration. A have also added some new maps with interactive links that take surfers to relevant directory pages.

The GTS directory has suffered somewhat as Foday now has little time to keep research going, but we are now getting requests from people wanting directory pages added for Gambian businesses and related web sites.

Membership numbers - With 30 members visiting during March and April this year, we are now looking forward to our membership numbers increasing to 80 visiting members between April 2001 and May 2002, with a projected 125 for the following year and 250 by April 2003 to May 2004.
Can you help in anyway?
By mentioning the GTS site to friends and family
By rejoining for a second visit and taking an up river safari
By sending an article about your Gambian holiday with picture to the local press and mentioning GTS with our email and web address.