The National Audit Office has revealed that Office of The President ignored recommendation not to introduce airport fees for travellers.

The current airport fees, for arriving and departing passengers at the Banjul International airport, were meant to be included in the air tickets. 

But the airlines refused saying that they were already charging passengers airport fees in their tickets.  

“Our discussions with officials revealed government failed to obtain approval from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) to allow airlines to include the security fee in the air tickets as The Gambia was already considered an expensive destination with numerous airport fees already embedded in the air tickets, and airlines were not willing to accept and include additional fee in the tickets of passengers,” the National Audit Office said. 

The government set up a task force to look at the issue and recommend solution. 

The group recommended the new security fee considering the numerous charges that are already included in the air tickets. 

It also recommended that the airlines collect the security fees on behalf of the government. 

“During the audit, we noted that government is required to issue directive to airlines operating at Banjul International Airport to collect from passengers on behalf of Securiport, a security fee for each arriving and departing international passengers.

“The task force set up by government to assess the viability of the project recommended the replacement of the 15% sales tax currently levied on air ticket with the new security fee considering the numerous charges included in the air-ticket. 

“However, executive approval from Office of The President was issued to forge ahead with the contract without considering this recommendation,” the National Audit Office said.

“This delayed the implementation process of the project and eventually resulted to a separate arrangement where staff of Securiport were deployed at the airport terminal to collect the security 

fee. 

“The administrative procedure of cash payment of the security fee at the airport creates hassle and inconvenience to passengers as they had to queue at the terminal to make this payment.

“There is a risk that tourists might choose other less expensive destination leading to reduction in foreign exchange into the country,” it added