Editor,

I would like to make a comment on the subject of bumsterism. When we returned to The Gambia in January for our seventh visit to this wonderful country that we love dearly, we find as usual, the majority of Gambians to be extraordinarily friendly, always smiling and ready to stop and talk.

However, the so called 'bumsters' are still around and are a real nuisance. The situation seemed to have been getting better a few years ago, but now it seems quite bad and some of them can get very abusive and even aggressive.

In my opinion, if something is not done about them, more tourists will leave their hotels thereby putting their money into the local economy rather than into the hotels. If you ask other tourists too, they will tell you their biggest problem  is the 'bumsters' as they put people off, leaving their hotels and getting out to visit the real Gambia which is truly wonderful.
 
harris-c2@sky.com