Sustainable tourism in Gambia and our peace of mind promise means we ensure YOU get the holiday you deserve while making sure LOCALS receive what they deserve.
We promise you
Sustainable Gambia tourism at Footsteps. We produce 100% of our energy on-site without noisy generators. Footsteps operate entirely on solar power. And to that end means that we only use energy-efficient products.
All prices are fair and reflect sustainable working conditions and fair terms of trade for local farmers and workers. As a result and above all local people get a better deal.
Employment only from the local village and we buy local too. This means we guarantee everyone receives a fair deal and that your holiday makes a real difference to the local economy for instance.
Sustainability
Composting toilets are fitted in each room and are odourless. They eventually go back to the soil along with the organic recycled kitchen resource. All lodge resource is recycled on-site.
Sustainable tourism is not only about solar panels. Each member of staff receives accredited training, fair pay, and a non-contributory pension. They also receive life cover, sick pay, and up to 21 days’ holiday each year.
Our lodge has solar water heating in the guest rooms and kitchen. The water from the showers and washbasins is fed through greywater recycling. Above all, this provides all the water for garden irrigation and great vegetables.
Fairness
Staff can plan for their futures. For instance, we offer small saving plans and a microloan system for unexpected emergencies such as roof repair.
The domed roundhouses have fruit trees and bushes planted around them giving shade. This means the bedrooms are cool by intelligent design. Solar-powered fans are available which means you get a great night’s sleep.
Lastly, all fresh produce is grown at Footsteps or sourced locally without the use of pesticides. Meats, fish and shellfish used in our restaurant are sourced locally and are of the very best standard.
Watch Babysteps, a video recorded in 2015 about why Footsteps was created and what we wanted to achieve.
Mission Statement
Footsteps Eco-Lodge is dedicated to improving The Gambia’s trade-in sustainable tourism. And thereby encourage sustainable employment within The Gambia.
We will encourage greater numbers of tourists to visit The Gambia. This will be achieved while encouraging others to improve the ecology of the country.
Our building, employment, and operations will adhere to a policy of being ‘Good, Honest and True.
We will educate other tourist-based businesses on how they can reduce the impact of their trade on the delicate ecosystem of The Gambia. This enables those businesses benefiting from that trade to pass on the message. And the lessons learned. Encouraging others to act in the same responsible manner.
To Sustain the Above Policy
- Our lodge is fitted throughout with composting toilets
- and has a greywater filtration system
- that utilizes solar and wind-generated power and other ecologically sound practices.
We help our guests to enjoy the benefits of an ecologically responsible location by using local Gambian employees. Each employee receives relevant training, fair pay, medical assistance, and the opportunity for advancement.
Sustainable Tourism Industry Involvement
We work closely with The Institute of Travel and Tourism of The Gambia and The Gambia School of Business Management. This means we encourage future generations to embrace and understand the need for sustainable, profitable, and socially responsible tourism.
We support local schools, business initiatives, and educational programs dealing with clean water supplies.
These include
- The Niaforang project
- Gunjur Upper Basic School
- Gunjur Museum
- Abubakar Sidique Foundation for Orphan Welfare.
You can help too! Just ask us about community activities during your holiday. Or have a look around online. Several charitable organisations are working in the area.
Our Policy Against Sexual Exploitation of Children.
By The General Manager Policy, no 001 issued and effective 28/03/2014
To fulfil our commitment as a responsible and ethical tourism company, Footsteps Eco-Lodge repudiates the sexual exploitation of children in travel and tourism. We have joined The Code of Conduct for the Protection of Children from Sexual Exploitation in Travel and Tourism to take concrete actions to prevent this crime.
Our actions include:
- the creation of this policy
- elaboration of related procedures
- appropriate training of all staff
- provision of information to travellers
- reporting of possible cases to local authorities/NGOs
- and submission of reports to The Code Organization.
The policy will serve as a guiding document with procedures for staff on how to proceed in the event of a child protection case or emergency. This policy is effective from 28th March 2014 onwards.
Purpose Statement.
Footsteps Eco-Lodge Ltd herein referred to as “Footsteps” acknowledge their responsibility. Footsteps take action in four focus areas that consist of most importantly:
- protecting children and adolescents from sexual exploitation in tourism
- securing fair working conditions
- ensuring good water supplies and
- mitigating the consequences of climate change.
To reach its goals, Footsteps cooperates closely with its employees, customers, partners such as NGOs, locals at destinations and suppliers. Footsteps seeks to ensure that its hotel partners, excursion providers, and any other suppliers herein referred to as ‘Suppliers’ or collectively as ‘Suppliers’ take part in this action towards more sustainable tourism.
This Supplier Code of Conduct
forms an integral part of Footsteps contracts with its Suppliers:
- Compliance with Applicable Law in General: Footsteps expects its Suppliers to comply with all applicable international and national and local laws and regulations. Industry minimum standards and any other relevant statutory requirements, whichever requirements are more stringent.
- Sexual Exploitation of Children and Adolescents: The Supplier allows or tolerates no child prostitution at the Supplier’s premises and facilities.
- Any suspicious behaviour from guests, employees, the staff of the Supplier’s suppliers or any other person on the Suppliers premises or during excursions. All must be reported to the local authorities by the Supplier.
- For the purpose of this section: A “child” is defined as a person younger than 18 years of age according to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
- This Supplier Code of Conduct includes engaging our direct and indirect suppliers. Vendors and contractors collectively, our “Suppliers”. In our pursuit of ethical business performance, environmental quality and social responsibility in our own company as well as in our value chains. We expect our suppliers and their affiliates to acknowledge and comply with this Supplier Code of Conduct.
The following document outlines the behaviours, processes and procedures that we observe.
This means for example as the minimum standards for conducting business in a safe, professional, legal, and ethical manner. And in a way that demonstrates corporate social and environmental responsibility.
Staff Policy Implementation Guide.
All staff is required to learn more about the sexual exploitation of children in travel and tourism. Related to this, all staff must acknowledge that they understand this policy.
If staff have concerns related to the sexual exploitation of children. They should report to the General Manager Dodou Touray.
If a member of staff witnesses firsthand a guest committing a child-related crime, they should report to Dodou Touray.
The Manager will make an executive decision based on the information available. For example whether to report to local authorities and/or send information to The Code.
