The tourist season was just ahead for Gambia when the setback came – 45 percent of all tourists disappeared in a flash with the bankruptcy of Thomas Cook. This is reported by Quartz Africa. 

The Gambian government, under the democratically elected leadership of Adama Barrow, says it is closely monitoring developments in the unfortunate situation that the "heart of the Gambian economy" has found itself in, which is a shock to both the job market and the economy in general. 

Gambian hotels are 90 percent full during the winter months and Thomas Cook accounted for 45 percent of all tourists, according to the government. 

Tourism Minister Amat NK Bah immediately called an emergency meeting to find a solution with hoteliers and representatives from the International Monetary Fund, the EU, the World Bank and the French Finance Ministry. One possible strategy is to persuade other airlines to increase the number of flights to the country.

Tourism accounts for more than 20 percent of Gambia's GDP, according to the UN trade body, and the country does not have large natural resources like its neighbors. 

Source: di.se