Ghana Tourism Authority

The Ghana Tourism Authority is a Ghanaian state agency under the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts responsible for the regulation of tourism in Ghana by marketing, promoting, licensing, classifying, researching and developing tourism facilities and services in the country.[1] To know more about places you can visit, the visitghana website can be accessed for enquiries.[2]

Ghana Tourism Authority
Agency overview
Formed1960
JurisdictionGovernment of Ghana
Headquarters2nd Ave., South Ridge, 2 Haile Selassie St, Accra
Websitewww.ghana.travel

History

The Ghana Tourism Authority was established in 1960 as the Ghana Tourist Board.[3] The board was renamed as the Ghana Tourism Authority in 2011 under act 817. The act extended the tasks of the agency to overseeing the implementation of government policies in the industry. The act also makes the agency a fully-fledged income generating authority by establishing a fund to which every tourism business is required to contribute one percent (1%) of its revenue for tourism development.[4][5]

The Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture oversees eleven agencies, including the Ghana Tourism Authority, National Theatre of Ghana, and others, focusing on policy formulation and monitoring.[6] Throughout its history, the Ghana Tourism Authority has consistently fulfilled its crucial function as the primary executing body for the promotion and global marketing of tourism, both within the country and on the international stage. In recent times, tourism has boomed in Ghana and Africa, becoming more exciting and educational.

In 2015, there were 897,000 arrivals, boosting businesses and the economy. The Ghana Tourism Authority actively supports the tourism industry by fostering sustainable development and enabling the provision of quality tourism services and products. Tourism in Ghana has been instrumental in promoting networking and employment opportunities. Ghana holds the distinction of being the first African nation to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the arrival of enslaved Africans from Jamestown, Accra, to Jamestown in Virginia, USA, in 1619.[7] Ghana's historical significance and peaceful multicultural society make it a highly recommended tourist destination.

The Ghana Tourism Authority is resolute in ensuring the highest standards in Ghana's Tourism and Hospitality sector to maintain its position as the top tourist destination in Africa.

Notable Initiatives

The Ghana Tourism Authority has instituted some days annually to celebrate various themes in the country.

Initiative Commemoration Year instituted Date of Celebration
National Chocolate Day[8] Valentines Day (Love) 2005[8] 10 February - 14 February
Year of Return[9] 400 years since the first slave ships landed in the Americas 2018 2019

Year of Return

In 2019, The Year of Return, organized by The Ghana Tourism Authority, was a year-long initiative featuring tours, celebrations, and cultural events. Its aim was to encourage African Americans and the African diaspora to visit their ancestral homeland, boost tourism, and provide economic aid to Ghana. This initiative marked the 400th anniversary of the arrival of enslaved Africans in Jamestown, Virginia, during the Transatlantic Slave Trade.[7][10]

The Year of Return drew in around one million visitors and boosted the economy by an estimated $1.9 billion. It had a transformative impact on attendees' lives beyond its economic success.[11] One of the most unforgettable destinations that was visited is the Elmina Slave Castle, a significant edifice from the era of the Transatlantic slave trade, situated approximately three hours away from Accra, near Cape Coast.

Tourist Sites

Bia National Park

Bia National Park is one-third of the Bia Conservancy Area, a biosphere reserve spanning 306 sq km. It's in the transitional zone between two types of tropical forests, and it protects the Bia River's drainage area. Established in 1935, it became a national park in 1974.[12]

Bia National Park is in the Western North Region, west of Takoradi, with road access from Kumasi via Bibiani or from Tarkwa-Sefwi via Wiawso road. The best time for game viewing is from November to April during the long dry season, while the rainy seasons in May to June and September to October are less ideal due to slippery roads and colder weather.

See also

References
  1. "Ghana Tourism Authority". Ghana Tourism Authority. Retrieved 9 December 2019.
  2. "Visit Ghana: The Official Tourism Website of Ghana". Visit Ghana. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
  3. Pike, Steven (14 December 2015). Destination Marketing: Essentials. Routledge. p. 30. ISBN 9781317430926.
  4. Oxford Business Group (2012). The Report: Ghana 2012. p. 203. ISBN 9781907065644. {{cite book}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  5. Reed, Ann (27 August 2014). Pilgrimage Tourism of Diaspora Africans to Ghana. Routledge. p. 63. ISBN 9781317674993.
  6. "The Tourism Industry of Ghana". GhanaWeb. 24 October 2019. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  7. "Slave Heritage Tourism on Rise in Ghana". VOA. 26 August 2019. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  8. "Chocolate Day". Visit Ghana. Retrieved 15 February 2020.
  9. Editor (13 March 2019). "Year of Return - Ghana 2019". touringghana.com. Retrieved 15 February 2020. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  10. Fulop, Shirley Williams,Lily. "Why I Traveled To Ghana 400 Years After Slavery". www.refinery29.com. Retrieved 7 September 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  11. "Slavery's 400-year anniversary brings tourist boom to Ghana". Christian Science Monitor. ISSN 0882-7729. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
  12. "Visit Ghana - Bia National Park". Visit Ghana. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
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