The River Gambia offers a variety of river-based tourism including cruises, fishing and wildlife excursions. Photo Credit: The Gambia Tourism Board

For years, Gambia has been known as a laid-back West African beach destination, but that's gradually changing as the country starts to take the spotlight as a conservation and cultural hot spot.

The Gambia Tourism Board recently unveiled a comprehensive marketing strategy as part of the World Bank-funded Tourism Diversification and Resilience Project, showcasing the country as a fully-fledged ecotourism destination.

"The world's travel patterns are evolving, and The Gambia is adapting," said tourism board director Abubacarr Camara. "While we continue to celebrate our beach tourism, we are now unlocking the potential of ecotourism, heritage experiences and adventure travel."

Tourism officials say that what makes this small nation particularly appealing for first-time Africa travelers is its accessibility. "For anyone coming to Africa for the first time from an English-speaking country, The Gambia is a very good start," says Linda Verasdal, a Norway-born tourism entrepreneur who has lived in The Gambia for over 15 years and is the founder of Ethical Travel Portal. "English is the official language, which means visitors can easily interact with locals."

The lack of a language barrier makes interaction with locals in Gambia's many eco-focused tourism projects that much simpler. Just an hour south of the main tourist area, the village of Gunjur showcases several grassroots initiatives, including the Turtle Project, which protects sea turtle eggs until hatching, and an innovative plastic recycling program.

"These small projects make a real impact," Verasdal said. "Seeing these grassroots initiatives is really interesting and worth it for visitors who want to understand both challenges and solutions."

One of Gambia's most innovative projects is the Gambia Cotton Trail, which connects coastal Gunjur with the upriver village of Njau through a women-led initiative in partnership with Women's Initiative Gambia. Visitors can follow the entire production chain, from cotton growing through spinning, weaving and tailoring. "It's a really nice way of learning about culture, meeting people, and history - all built into a journey that lets you see the country," Verasdal said, adding, "Our main goal is to make products 100% Gambian, from seed to finished item."

Travelers wanting to explore these community projects can stay at Footsteps Ecolodge in Gunjur, one of the longest-standing ecolodges in Gambia, positioned roughly a mile inland from the beach, a 25-minute walk through scenic off-road terrain.

Editor Ⅰ: Zhang Congxiao

Editor Ⅱ: Bao Gang

Editor Ⅲ: Liu Guosong