The Gambia is a famous tourist destination that prides itself as the Smiling Coast of Africa. But beneath the smiles that serve as the most valuable unique selling proposition lies starving industry workers who are exploited by their employers.

This is a dark side of Gambian tourism that tourists are beginning to see.

One Tracy Quemard from Jersey in the United Kingdom claims that most of the foreign-owned hotels pay their local staff poorly.

She was responding to a Facebook post by KarstenTouray, the owner of Karsten’s Smiling Coast Restaurant. According to the German restaurateur, The Gambia is hosting the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) conference in 2018.

“This conference will bring a lot of money, guests and journalists into the country and makes The Gambia more well-known on the world map,” wrote Karsten.

Tracy, who visits the country regularly, commented: “Yes it will bring some work but will pay very little to the local Gambians as we all know. But none locals will get a lot out of it.”

Another regular visitor to The Gambia, Christopher Vant, expressed his outrage and disgust over the paltry salaries that hotels are paying local staff.

He said: “I am going to The Gambia in December. I am aiming to only eat, drink and buy goods from businesses owned and run by Gambians. I hope this helps The Gambia in some small way.”

Karten, who is among the many foreign investors in the tourism industry, said many Gambians are interested in working in the industry because of the tips they receive from visitors.