The Gambia is sadly becoming a ‘playing ground’ for sex tourists from European countries. Despite prostitution being illegal, the country’s nightlife is loosely controlled.

Although it is common to see young Gambian girls loitering in the Senegambia Strip, the Nigerians and other West African nationalities dominate in the illegal sex industry.

According to a German travel fun blog, there are always enough young, pretty girls in bars, restaurants and nightclubs to easily engage in a conversation.

“And it is possible to book a girl for several days, or during your whole stay. There is something for everyone,” they wrote.

The website, Brothel Sex, revealed that Totties and Waw are frequented by hookers.  According to them: “Gambia does not seem to be one of those Third World countries with street hookers hustling and begging for pennies, but it's more of an emerging economy that sees women taking up sex work as a path of entrepreneurship and opportunity for a better life compared to farming or working as factory employees. Places like Wow and Totties are hip and women seem to work all on themselves as freelancers populating watering holes, tourist hangouts and discotheques. Amazing, how this concept works out well in so many places around the world from Papua over Hong Kong to Brazil: and Gambia.”

One of their guest writers also mentioned Bini’s Bar & Restaurant and Voodoo Beauty Saloon as places to pick up girls for sex.  

In an interview with Loud Gambia, the London Region Director of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE), Peter Fleet said if sex tourism is not controlled it can spoil the image of The Gambia destination. He was recently in the country.

Peter added, “People will be put off by that. Places like Thailand have that reputation and you don’t want Gambia to have that reputation as well.”

What’s On-Gambiais trying to secure an interview with The Gambia Tourism Board to find out what they’re doing to control sex tourism.