A country loved by UK tourists has been named the worst place in the world to live. The Gambia, a small African country, is beloved by tourists but has a plummeting quality of life score, according to a new travel index released this week.
The Gambia has been placed at the bottom of the list compiled by CEOWORLD Magazine report. The worst 20 places to live included the Gambia and Burkina Faso as well as Liberia, Somalia and Chad which all completed the top five.
Other countries named included DR Congo in sixth spot, while North Korea came seventh, ahead of Mozambique, Eritrea and Niger, which completed the top ten. In eleventh spot was Yemen, followed by Malawi and the Central African Republic.
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Syria, Sudan and Madagascar were also named in the top 20 alongside Afghanistan, South Sudan, Sierra Leone and also Burundi. The Gambia is renowned for its uncrowded, sandy beaches and there are beautiful, wide stretches of sand in most resorts.
The coastline around the resort area of Kololi suffers from ongoing erosion from the strong Atlantic currents; although a replenishment project is planned and it remains a popular resort with holiday-makers. There are wide sandy beaches at Kotu, Bijilo, Banjul and Cape Point.
But the hotspot faces some socioeconomic issues such as poverty, limited access to healthcare and education in some areas, and occasional political instability. The Gambia Experience explains: "There is a high level of religious tolerance in The Gambia and crime against tourists is low so venturing outside the hotels is safe.
"You will experience 'bumsters' who have chosen to make their living outside the hotels and on the beach selling excursions, handicrafts or offering to show tourists around the local area. Some can be persistent to the point of being a nuisance although The Gambia Tourist Board has successfully reduced the number of bumsters in recent years."
