WHY OLDER BRITISH WOMEN VISIT THE GAMBIA

When you picture The Gambia — a small West African nation known as “The Smiling Coast” — you might think of sandy beaches, warm sunsets, and relaxed holidaymakers. But over the past few decades, The Gambia has also become known for a less-talked-about phenomenon: older British and European women travelling there and forming relationships with men significantly younger than themselves. This trend has attracted media attention, stirred debate, and even led Gambian officials to publicly discourage it, but to understand it fully we need to look past the headlines and into the human needs, economic realities, and social dynamics behind it.

At its simplest, this pattern began with the rise of budget tourism to The Gambia in the 1990s. When cheap package tours started arriving from the UK and other European countries, The Gambia became a popular winter destination for retirees and older holidaymakers seeking sun, relaxation and affordable travel. Over time, some holidaying women began to forge connections with local men, many of whom were unemployed or underemployed and saw any economic opportunity — even a romantic or sexual one — as a way to improve their circumstances.

In the coastal towns and resorts, particularly the stretch known as the Senegambia Strip,  young Gambian men locally nicknamed bumsters or beach boys walk the beaches and mingle with tourists. In a country where youth unemployment is high and wages are low, forming ties with wealthier tourists can translate into financial support, gifts, or even the possibility of a better life abroad. For some visitors, the attention they receive feels like connection and affection, a welcome contrast to the loneliness or social challenges they may face back home. Others may develop genuine feelings over time, leading to friendships, long-term relationships or even marriage.

 For the Gambian men involved, the motivations are layered and often tied to economic inequality. One young man explained that in a place with few jobs and limited opportunities, forming a relationship with a tourist was sometimes seen as a means to travel, earn money, or support family members. Some men simply saw it as a way to leave the country or at least to survive in a struggling economy.

 At the same time, the women who make these journeys are driven by deeply human impulses: a desire for companionship, validation, love or intimacy at a stage of life when those things can feel hard to find. Many express frustration with relationships back home, where ageism, changing social circles, and a sense of invisibility can make dating difficult. In contrast, attention from younger men can feel energizing and affirming, not merely about sex, but about being seen and valued.

This dynamic isn’t uniquely Western men travelling for sex in poorer countries — which is why some observers have pointed out that women’s participation in sex tourism challenges traditional narratives about tourism and gender.

 Despite the personal motivations on both sides, the rise of these relationships has raised social and ethical questions. Gambian tourism officials have publicly stated that they want to shift the country’s reputation away from being known as a sex tourism destination for older women and instead promote The Gambia for its culture, nature and heritage. They want tourists who will engage with the country’s rich biodiversity, historic sites and communities rather than only seeking intimate encounters.

 Critics also emphasize that the power imbalance created by economic disparities can complicate the idea of “love” or “choice” in these relationships. When money, visas or promises of a better life are involved, the lines between genuine affection and economic transaction can become blurred, and not all relationships lead to long-term happiness or mutual respect.

In the end, the story of older British women in The Gambia isn’t just about holiday romances or tabloid headlines. It’s about two groups of adults navigating their needs and desires in a world marked by inequality, mobility and human longing. For some, the connections they forge are life-changing in positive ways. For others, they expose vulnerabilities and ethical tensions that reflect broader global imbalances. Understanding this phenomenon requires seeing past stereotypes to the real people — their hopes, struggles, and humanity — who make these choices.