The beach enclave: A landscape of power

This paper analyses the beach enclave resort of Senegambia in The Gambia as a landscape of power through the physical structure and the power relationships between different stakeholders reinforced by strict legislative and security measures. Beach enclaves are manifested as landscapes which protect tourists rather than national landscapes with leisure access and business opportunities for all. Building on a socio-spatial analysis of power and landscape, power relations in beach enclaves are discussed. Cultural and economic representations of the enclave product in a Less Economically Developed Country context are imbued with positive and negative socio-economic and cultural impacts. Post-structuralism and Structure and Agency are applied to further understand where marginality results from enclave tourism. The paper demonstrates a gap in the tourism literature and the need for further research on how places of marginality in tourist destinations are socially constructed by the power of individuals and organisations.

► The landscape of power concept is applied to the beach enclave of Senegambia.
► We examine the socio-spatial context of power relations that produce marginality.
► Package holiday environments form dreamscapes disguising poverty at a destination.
► Legislative restrictions and marketing access are key barriers for micro businesses.
► Social inclusion in enclaves depends on increased information and representation.