Ghana Tourism has been hailed worldwide as an effective tool for propelling economic growth. In 2006, international tourism receipts totaled $733 billion. In 2005, international tourism receipts for developing countries alone amounted to $203 billion.

Tourism is one of the major export sectors of developing countries, and it is the primary source of foreign exchange earnings in 46 of the 49 Least Developed Countries including Ghana.

Statistics from Robinson & USAID indicates that Ghana rakes in about $400 million in tourism revenue annually, making it the third foreign exchange earner after gold and cocoa.

With an estimated 450,000 visitors recorded annually, many have said that the country is indeed a huge source of attraction to tourists from all over the world.

Ghana can boast of beaches, historical slave dungeons in Elmina and Cape Coast, beautiful natural parks and gardens, craft villages, forts and castles, festivals, waterfalls, game reserves and national museum and an increasing number of hotels.

However, the full potential of tourism is yet to be tapped in Ghana and the rest of Africa.

Despite the major tourist attractions in Ghana, the tourism sector has been characterized by slow pace of growth and this situation can be attributed to lack of marketing, industry focus, access and high cost.

The tourism sector is not being provided with the needed tools to grow and this is affecting the expected returns achieved annually.

Ghana cannot claim to be achieving excellence in the area of development when adequate attention has not been paid to a service sector that has the potential of contributing millions of dollars to the country.

Kenya and others have devoted huge resources to the tourism sector because that is where a chunk of revenue is raked.

Eminent Ghanaian economist and researcher, Dr. Joseph Abbey, on Tuesday, marked down Ghana’s tourism sector, stating strongly that the country cannot lay claim to any meaningful spot as a hotbed or major tourist attraction.

Despite the fact that tourism remains the country’s third foreign exchange earner, Dr Abbey says compared to many other African destinations especially those in the Eastern belt, Ghana’s tourism sector is not matured enough to be considered a potent force in Africa.

He mentioned countries like Kenya and Botswana which, according to him, are way ahead of Ghana.

Dr. Abbey, who is the Executive Director of the Centre for Policy Analysis (CEPA) was speaking at the Ghana Speaks Lecture series put together by the Institute for Democratic Governance (IDEG).

In order to help address the problem facing the tourism sector worldwide, “mygoodagent.com”, an electronic platform that aims at networking independent travel agents and tour operators worldwide, will on November 2, 2007 be launched in Accra.

The website offers a one-stop shop for travellers looking for a good travel deal by providing information on a country’s specific tour attractions, the culture of the people and most importantly, it offers travellers the cheapest tickets available for purchase.

The website will be operated by Liberty International Travel Services, which is also the operator of Liberty Money Transfer.

William Adjovu, Managing Director of Liberty International Travel Services, believes the website will provide tour operators the opportunity to market their tour packages directly to tourists worldwide.

Mr Adjovu therefore called on the government and other non-governmental organizations to help raise awareness on this marketing tool.

Ms Gloria Akuffo, Minister of State at Aviation Ministry on Tuesday stressed the need to review bilateral agreement on air transport between Ghana and Germany.

She noted that the agreement signed in 1968, had significant limitations within market access, aircraft type and capacity.

Ms Akuffo made the call when opening a two-day Bilateral Air Services Negotiations between Ghana and Germany in Accra.

She said Ghana had adopted a liberalised skies policy that would make the country an aviation hub within the sub-region. “However Ghana has open skies with other African States under the Yamosoukro Decision,” she added.

Ms Akuffo said as part of Ghana’s investment policy, she had accepted cross border investments and therefore moved from substantial ownership by Ghanaians and allowed majority foreign investments in business.

She said the focus was in the business being established with effective regulatory control by Ghana.

Ms Akuffo said the European Union(EU) Community Designation Clause which allowed other EU carriers to benefit from air services agreements by EU member states was being considered by African Union(AU) through the African Aviation Commission.

She called on stakeholders in the negotiations to pay particular attention to safety and security that were crucial in the industry.

Mr Gerd Boosen is leading the eight member German delegation whilst Mr Twumasi Ankrah Selby leads the Ghanaian team.

Mr Steven Asamoah-Boateng, Minister of Tourism and Diasporan Relations, on Thursday urged restaurant and nightclub operators to utilise opportunities on the ground to raise standards of service delivery of their staff before and after the Ghana CAN 2008 tournament.

“As businessmen you must see the whole tournament as a tourism event, which would put you at the forefront . to meet the required standards,” he said.

He was speaking at a meeting with Restaurant and Nightclub operators within Accra to educate them on the need to raise and maintain a higher standard of service delivery and to promote Ghanaian dishes in attractive ways during and after the Ghana Can 2008 tournament.

The meeting, which was organised by the ministry, was also to discuss how to create excellent environment at those spots, maintain healthy standards and adapt strategies to deal with changes in the industry.

Mr Asamaoh-Boateng said as part of the preparation towards the tournament, the ministry would organise series of training workshops for restaurant operators and their staffs in the regional capitals to equip them with the necessary tools to meet the international standard.

He said the ministry would also consult the health sector, the security and the transport operators to see how prepared they were to take care of the tournament and the safety of the people.

He said the services of restaurants should be packaged in a way to play a dual role - feed the clients with good food and entertainment at the same time.

“It is very important for every manager of such places to pay special attention to the visitors to entice them to the place another time.

Those who lack these initiatives ended up collapsing their businesses and thereby losing their investments.”

The Minister also urged the operators to utilise the brains of their staff by involving them in meetings and matters concerning the business.

Mr Kofi Osei-Ameyaw, Deputy Minister of Tourism and Diasporan Relations, urged the operators to form cooperatives to enable them organise their activities effectively as their counterparts in the hotel business.

“When you are able to organise yourselves this way, build up your business and products it would encourage government to hold some of its functions at these restaurants instead of giving everything to the hotels,” he said.

Mrs Ivy Gyampo, Director of Edvy Restaurant appealed to the government to create fair playing grounds for both the bigger and smaller restaurants during and after the tournament to boost the industry.

She said on occasions like that, only the hotels and so called big restaurants that were catered for in terms of receiving and serving visitors.

“For a long time now, it was like there was nobody to talk on our behalf. I would like to appealed to the ministry to intervene so that on such occasions some of the visitors would be sent to us,” she added.

Some of the operators also complained about high licence fees being charged by the Accra Metropolitan Assembly, which, they said had forced most of them out of business and urged the ministry to intervene.

They claimed they were currently paying seven million cedis as a licence fee as compared to one million and ninety thousand cedis as at last year and urged the government to do something about that or else most of them would be out of business.

Most stakeholders in the Ghanaian hospitality industry have geared-up their activities for the 26th MTN African Cup of Nations scheduled for Ghana from January 20 to February 10, next year.

A visit to some major hotels in Accra by Ghana News Agency monitoring team, revealed frantic preparation by hoteliers to host football fans from across the globe.

Some of the hotels visited were, African Regent Hotel, Shangri-La, La Beach Hotel, Fiesta ROYALE Hotel, The New Coco Beach Resort, Golden Tulip, NOVOTEL, and La Palm Hotel.

Mr Edwin Ousu-Mensah, Acting Deputy Executive Director in Charge of Operations, Ghana Tourist Board said the board in collaboration with management of Cleaning Solutions Limited had initiated a programme to promote healthy hygienic environment within hotels in the country.

The programme is to improve and maintain clean and hygienic standards in the hospitality industry before, during and after the tournament to international standards.

Management of Cleaning Solutions would offer free training for housekeeping, modern scientific trends in hotel wash house operations, kitchen hygiene, maintenance, hands on product demonstrations and cleaning monitoring.

Mrs Beatrice Archer, Executive Housekeeper of African Regent Hotel said “we are taking advantage of the likely inflow of visitors to package more traditional focus activities for our clients”.

She said to achieve their objective was to regularly update and review standards to keep the hotel’s operation in line with the national commitment to encourage and promote the rich Ghanaian culture, traditions and art works.

Mrs Archer said management of the hotel had also instituted on the job training of staffs to inject new dynamism in service delivery, which had been a major bane on the Ghanaian hospitality industry as well as to improve quality and standards to meet international specifications and attract more tourists.

“We are getting ready for the event to make Ghana proud and confirm the general perception of the “noble Ghanaian Hospitality”.

“We have introduced and improved new standards according to international practices, tailored made in Ghana products such local food and display of cultural artefacts,” she stated.

Mr Kofi Ankomah Asamoah, Chief Executive Officer of Cleaning Solutions explained that a team of experts would visit selected premises to assess and arrange special training to improve their standards.

He said standards of cleaning and hygiene were basic determinant factors in quality assurance and reflected an image of a destination or an establishment, hence the promotion.

Managements of hotels visited told Ghana News Agency that they had outlined strict security arrangements to protect guests and other visitors, ward off prostitutes and make clients comfortable in Ghana and provide hospitality of the highest standard with a blend of authentic African tradition, music and culture.

Fourteen Ghanaian dance groups, made up of more than 700 dancers, will compete in the sixth edition of the Japanese Dance Festival “YOSAKOI” to be held on Saturday November 3. The competition, to be held at Efua Sutherland Children’s Park in Accra, forms part of Ghana’s 50th independence anniversary celebrations.

The Yosakoi Dance originated in Kochi, Japan after the end of the Second World War. “Yosakoi,” in Japanese means “happiness will come”, in a renewed reassurance to the people to put behind them tribulations they suffered during war.

Mrs Kazuko Asai, then Japanese Ambassador introduced the dance in Ghana six years ago to promote and deepen the cultural ties between the two countries.

In August this year, 20 Ghanaian students from Achimota Secondary School and St. Peter’s Secondary School were in Japan on a cultural exchange tour and participated in one of the biggest Street Dance Festival in Japan called, “Super Yosakoi” held in Tokyo.

Together with their Japanese counterparts, the Ghanaian students danced together, wearing Ghana Flag costumes to music specially made for the occasion by ace Ghanaian musician Batman Samini. The song was called “Yosakoi Yensa” with choreography by Batman’s dancers.

The Gbidukorza festival jointly celebrated by the people of Peki and Hohoe traditional areas is scheduled to take place this weekend at Hohoe in the Volta Region.

A release signed by the Deputy General Secretary of the Gbidukor National Steering Committee, Mr Kwaku Baka urged all Gbiviwo and the general public to attend the celebration.

The highlights of the four-day celebrations include Miawoezor ceremony on Friday, October 26 and a grand durbar of the chiefs and people as well as a State Dance on Saturday October 27.

The remaining two days is filled with other interesting activities, the release said.

The Ministry of Chieftaincy and Culture has instituted November each year as a National Cultural Awareness month to help integrate Ghanaian Cultural values and knowledge system into the daily activities of all to boost self-values and self-consciousness.

According to Mr Sampson Kwaku Boafo, Minister of Chieftaincy and Culture, the decision has received overwhelming Parliamentary support and he appealed to the public to take advantage of the period to showcase the Ghanaian personality both at workplaces and at all social functions as a show of solidarity to promote Made in Ghana goods.

Mr Boafo, who was addressing the media at the launch of the Jubilee National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFAC 2007) on Wednesday, said it was time Ghanaians got together as a team to promote their heritage. “A country without culture has no identity or soul which is tantamount to an abomination.

“This means that during November every year, whether there is NAFAC or not, the awareness creation would be actively pursued and the area which will occupy great attention is the culture of sanitation in the communities.”

The Minister said the Jubilee NAFAC 2007, which would take place in Kumasi from November 1-10 under the theme: “50 years of Cultural Integration and National Development,” would feature activities including inventors’ exhibition, sector ministerial exhibition, women and children’s day, regional day as well as national durbar of chiefs. He explained that the festival, which was adopted by the Arts Council of Ghana in 1967 as a national event, had gone through various changes, both in structure and content, including its rotation among all the regions.

Mr Boafo said the significance of Jubilee NAFAC to showcase and celebrate the unique diversities of the nation’s rich cultural heritage as well as to promote excellence and creativity in arts at 50 years, must receive wide publicity by the media to make the event a memorable one.

He said a 32-member National Planning Committee, under the joint Chairmanship of Mr E.A. Owusu-Ansah, Ashanti Regional Minister and Nana Wiafe Akenten III, Offinso Manhene, has already been inaugurated to see to the success of the celebrations.

Mr. Boafo said for the first time in the history of NAFAC, Cabinet unanimously endorsed it as an important national event, which should be celebrated in a very big way to attract the whole world to Ghana.

“Cabinet, however, decided that the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Environment, Ministry of Information and National Orientation, Ministry of Education, Science and Sports and the Ministry of Tourism and Diasporan Relations should be part of the National Planning of the festival,” he said.

He called for the intensive promotion of Ghanaian traditional cuisines in all restaurants and snack bars, homes as well as aboard Ghana International Airline flights during those occasions.

The Ministry of Trade, Industry, Private Sector Development and President’s Special Initiative says it has plans to turn all handicraft villages into tourist sites and showcase them on the web.

Mr Francis O. Kusi, Director of Investment and Financial Services at the Ministry, said on Wednesday that it would be easier for tourists to locate tourism sites if they had fair knowledge about the country’s tourism potentials and where to locate them.

He was speaking on the topic: “Micro Small and Medium Scale Project (MSMSP)” at the 517th Monthly Meeting of Accra Regional Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ARCCI) in Accra.

Mr Kusi said the project sought to make SMEs more competitive and enable them to create more jobs.

The project would also help SMEs to reduce business constraints, strengthen business associations by assisting them have access to finance, market and also to develop their products.

Mr Kusi said under the MSMSP government would encourage banks to give loans to SMEs under the partial credit guarantee programme and government would share any risks associated equally with the banks.

He urged them to take advantage of the programme to expand their businesses and create wealth.

Mrs Dorothy Kingsley-Nyinah, an Administrator at the Commercial Court, advised members to opt for Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanism to solve business disputes and save cost and time.

She said ADR in commercial courts was free of charge but if one opted for an independent mediator, the court would recommend one but that would not be free.

Mr Douglas A Boateng, President of ARCCI, urged companies and business owners to be part of the solution to the floods in the three northern regions.

He announced that the Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industries had donated 50 million cedis to the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) to carter for the victims.

Mr Boateng said the Chamber was collecting donations on behalf of the victims and urged members to get in touch with the secretariat for account numbers.

The University of Ghana and the National Museum of Denmark on Thursday inaugurated a 450,000-dollar renovated museum at Sesemi, near Abokobi, in the Ga East District, to serve as a tourist and research site to promote a common heritage between Ghana and Denmark.

The facility called “Federikgave” formerly known as “Royal Plantation” is one of several plantations established by the Danes in the 19th century in the foothills of the Akuapem Mountain to enslave workers to cultivate crops such as cotton, coffee and tobacco.

Professor Clifford Nii Boi Tagoe, Vice Chancellor, UG, said the project initiated and funded by the Danish Augustinus Foundation, was to jointly develop the historical, cultural and natural heritage resources in the area.

He said the facility had therefore been developed to tell a story of plantation and slave trade to cover a tragic chapter in the history of a shared common past between the two countries.

Prof. Tagoe said the University’s support in the project was also in fulfilment of its mandate to improve and sustain collaboration with society through research and education to advance public knowledge. The Vice Chancellor called for the adoption of legal steps to secure and protect various historical sites that were being encroached on.

He commended the Foundation, Chief and people of Sesemi and other individuals for their commitment and investment in making the project successful.

Mr Kofi Osei Ameyaw, Deputy Minister for Tourism and Diaspora Relations, said it was a great experience to see the Danes back in Ghana to establish such as a project aimed at promoting the heritage of the two countries to erase the painful experience encountered by Ghanaians who were engaged in the slave trade.

“This facility is therefore very historic to serve as a reminder of the past and at the same time tell us of the regrets suffered by our ancestors in order to avoid repetition of such abuse.”

The Deputy Minister said the museum alone could not serve the intended purpose, hence the need to cultivate the historic plantation to give a complete picture of the exact situation.

He noted that although diplomatic relations between Ghana and Denmark had over the years been encouraging Ghana was now working to attain economic emancipation hence the need to invest in various sectors.

“Ghana is an obvious choice in the sub-region for investment. We have peace, good governance, democracy and in addition the most hospitable people you can ever find on this earth,” he added.

Mr. Osei Ameyaw said the inauguration of the project also marked a new dimension in the country’s tourist sector and expressed government’s commitment to continue to develop it.

Mr Kofi Allotey, District Chief Executive for Ga East, said even though tourism had become one of the main sources of income and employment generation, the district was yet to reap its full benefit.

He said the District had a number of tourist sites such as the African Village near Sesemi, the historical origin of the district capital, Abokobi, as settlement for Presbyterian missionaries, a number of archaeological sites at Oyarifa and other eco-tourism potentials that could also be developed.

Mr Allotey expressed the Assembly’s commitment to develop and market the site in order to generate more revenue and create employment for the youth in the area.

Nii Tackie Tawiah III, Ga Mantse, commended the Danes for the project, which, he said, demonstrated commitment on the part of both countries to do away with the acrimony that existed in history. He urged all Chiefs in Ga land to treasure their land and to release them for such beneficial projects to make all Gas proud of their native land.

Mr Brain Mikuelsen, Danish Minister for Culture, said the project was to further strengthen the economic relations between the two countries.

“Since I came to Ghana a few days ago, I have seen a lot of Ghana Danish shared values as well as Ghanaians with names form the Danish descent.”

He expressed optimism that the project would be managed effectively to serve its purpose and enhance economic partnership. Mr Carsten U. Larsen, Director, for National Museum, Denmark, said the Danish Government was happy to have established the museum to benefit the community and the country as a whole.

Dr. Marius Haas, German Ambassador to Ghana, on Wednesday urged the Ministry of Tourism and Diasporan Relations to attract more German tourists to Ghana.

He said it was important that the Ministry created an office in Germany so that the personnel could contact tourists directly and convince them about the tourism products in Ghana.

Dr Haas made the suggestion when he paid a courtesy call on Mr Stephen Asamoah Boateng, Minister of Tourism and Diasporan Relations.

He said the tourism ministry could also reach out to the German tourists by designing a website particularly for the German community to attract more tourists since about half of the German population travelled out of the country every year for tourism.

Dr Haas also suggested that the Ministry should facilitate the creation of more restaurants along the beachfronts and noted that a lot of foreigners had complained about the lack of restaurants along the beach.

Mr Asamoah Boateng noted that in Ghana tourism was one of the growth sectors that could help reduce poverty especially in rural areas.

He said the Ministry’s priority was on human resource development within the tourism industry and suggested an exchange programme between the German tourism sector and the Ministry of Tourism.

Mr Asamoah Boateng mentioned marketing of the tourism products and the need for more hotel rooms as other priority areas of the ministry and expressed the hope that the relationship between the Ministry and the German government would be further strengthened.