Gambia Cracks Down on Unlicensed Beach Bars in Tourism Development Area
Banjul, The Gambia — In a major regulatory sweep aimed at enforcing structural order along the coast, the Gambia Tourism Board (GT Board) has issued formal compliance notices to all beach bars and restaurants operating without authorization within the country’s premium Tourism Development Area (TDA).
The enforcement action reflects a scaled-up effort by the statutory body to eliminate unlicensed operations and unauthorized land encroachments that compromise safety and standards within the destination’s hospitality ecosystem.
Territorial Jurisdiction under Fire
According to the official notice, issued under reference AWG 279/404/01 (112), the crackdown targets a highly trafficked stretch of the Gambian coastline. The TDA under review extends dynamically from Kotu to Kartong, covering an area 800 meters inland from the high-water mark.
The GT Board reiterated that all lands within this specific perimeter fall under its exclusive, state-mandated jurisdiction. This authority is strictly backed by two core pieces of legislation:
- Section 46(1) of the Gambia Tourism Board Act, 2011
- Section 27 of the State Lands Act subsidiary legislation
Because the area is reserved exclusively for regulated, sustainable tourism development, any business operating within these boundaries without direct authorization from the Board constitutes an unlawful activity that actively undermines sector-wide quality controls.
Strict Directives and Deadlines Issued to Operators
The GT Board has laid down clear legal ultimatums for all affected Beach Bar and Restaurant Operators. To keep running, business owners must take immediate action to execute the following steps:
- Regularize Occupation Status: Operators must contact the GT Board immediately to clear and validate their land-use right and occupation status.
- Secure Operating Licences: Businesses must formally apply for and obtain proper tourism operating licenses as legally required under Section 32 of the Gambia Tourism Board Act, 2011 and Regulation 94 of the Tourism Regulations, 2011.
Notice of Sanctions: The Board has warned that a failure to comply swiftly with these directives will result in administrative and legal enforcement measures. This explicitly includes the immediate closure of non-compliant business operations.
Protecting the Integrity of ‘The Smiling Coast’
This latest enforcement drive highlights the GT Board’s broader mandate to ensure orderly infrastructural growth, mitigate coastal erosion from unregulated beachfront structures, and protect public hygiene. The regulatory body continues to work closely with the Ministry of Tourism, Arts & Culture, alongside private and public sector stakeholders, to maintain the international appeal and integrity of the TDA.
Submitting Official Documentation
All beach bars and restaurants seeking to regularize their operational status must submit their complete business profiles and supporting paperwork with a formal cover letter addressed to:
- The Director General Gambia Tourism Board, Kotu P.O. Box 4085, Bakau Kanifing Municipality, The Gambia
- Email Contact: info@gtboard.gm
- Telephone Inquiry: (220) 4462 490 / 1 / 5 / 6
- Fax: (220) 4462 487
