By Fatou Camara II
The government has come under criticism following the introduction of a new travel law which imposes charges of up to D2,000 on air travellers.
A letter purportedly by Gambia Civil Aviation Authority and written to airlines companies in the country emerged online since on Monday and it shows the authority informing the companies the government is implementing the new law dubbed, ‘Immigration Security System Levy’, at the Banjul International Airport.
The letter says collection booths have been installed at the airport to ‘manually’ collect the levy from passengers – with each departing and arriving passenger required to pay 20 dollars (D1,000).
A government spokesperson on Tuesday struggled to say where the unpopular move came from. A Gambia Civil Aviation Authority official could not also comment on the issue.
Gambians carpeted the move online on Tuesday insisting it could discourage tourists from coming into the country.
Nyang Njie said: “The Government of the Gambia has in effect made Leopold Sedar Senghor our main Airport. There are many Gambians flying in and out of this airport due to the frequency of flights and ticket pricing.
“The recent tax levied on passengers at Banjul International Airport will be the beginning of the end for an airport that is neither competitive nor sustainable. Sad days ahead in Gambian aviation.”
“This is so outrageous to see. I really don’t see the rationale behind this daft idea. Now is not the time to be increasing taxes on travellers when we looking to revive the airline and tourism industry. This means a family of four coming into The Gambia will have to pay an extra $160 on their holiday bill,” Raffie Diab said in a Facebook post.
Abdou Aziz Sarr: “The Government is being insensitive to the financial implications of the pandemic and the difficulties of the tourism industry. This is not the time to increase cost of traveling. We need to encourage not discourage tour operators and travelers. Look at the big picture.”
