Tourism
From The Report: Ghana 2016
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Over the next 12 years Ghana aims to move from an off-the-beaten-track locale to a major player in African tourism. Ambitious plans are afoot to increase visitor numbers five-fold by 2027, capitalising on the country’s natural beauty, cultural heritage, hospitality, and safety and security. The World Travel & Tourism Council forecasts that the tourism sector will grow by an annual average of 4.5% per year between 2014 and 2024. This is in line with broader economic growth: the council expects tourism and travel to contribute the same 3% to GDP in 2024. A new, well-financed tourism authority is already implementing a detailed strategy emphasising private sector leadership and investment.

This chapter includes an interview with Charles Osei-Bonsu, CEO, Ghana Tourism Authority.

Articles from this Chapter

Overview

Emerging star: Bold targets show the government’s positive intent for the sector
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Over the next 12 years Ghana aims to move from an off-the-beaten-track locale to a major African tourism player. Ambitious plans are afoot to increase visitor numbers five-fold by 2027, capitalising on natural beauty, cultural heritage, hospitality, and safety and security. A new, well-financed tourism authority is already implementing a detailed strategy emphasising private sector leadership and investment. Contribution & Growth According to the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), the…

Analysis

High hopes: Natural assets and a good reputation bode well for future growth
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In spite of its reputation as a safe, friendly destination – along with strong links to the diaspora and a wide range of cultural, natural and historical sites – Ghana’s tourism sector has yet to reach its potential, prompting the country to embark on an ambitious strategy aimed at increasing visitor numbers five-fold over the next 12 years. Ghana’s tourism sector has strengthened in recent years, with a thriving domestic segment helping to generate forecasts of steady growth. However, while…

Interview

New frontiers: OBG talks to Charles Osei-Bonsu, CEO, Ghana Tourism Authority
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Interview:Charles Osei-Bonsu What are the biggest challenges to achieving the goal of attracting 5m tourists by 2027? CHARLES OSEI-BONSU: The first challenge that must be addressed is the bureaucracy for issuing visas. We must create an environment where people visit Ghana at the beginning of their travels. We have worked closely with the department of immigration, and they are beginning to see the potential that tourism has to boost the economy. The next issue is infrastructure, especially in the hinterlands. Ghana’s most frequently visited tourist sites are on the coast – the Cape Coast, the Elmina castles and the Kokrobite or Ada…

Analysis

Catalyst for development: A new levy is set to provide increased funding for the sector
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As well as establishing the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), Ghana’s Tourism Act granted the organisation significant new scope by setting up the Tourism Development Fund (TDF). The TDF does not replace state funding for tourism but substantially supplements it, and could provide a multiplier effect, with more revenues from tourism providing funds for reinvestment to develop the sector. The TDF’s aim is to “provide funding for tourism and tourism-related projects and programmes”. The GTA can…

Analysis

Staff party: Development of the industry will need to be accompanied by improved training
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As Ghana’s tourism sector has grown, there has been a widespread feeling that one of the biggest challenges it faces is human resources. The authorities are now working to address this by participating in international training programmes and developing a new tourism university to support the sector. Counting Up Ghana ranks 129th in the world in terms of the proportion of the workforce that is employed in tourism. In a country with a growing population, building up this labour-intensive sector…