Tourism is a rapidly growing phenomenon and has become one of the largest industries in the world. The impact of tourism is extremely varied. On one hand, it plays an important and certainly positive role in the socio-economic and political development in destination countries by, for instance, offering new employment opportunities. Also, in certain instances, it may contribute to a broader cultural understanding by creating awareness, respecting the diversity of cultures and ways of life. Here in Ghana, tourism is among the leading foreign exchange earner for the country, yet the same cannot be said about its infrastructures or management level when you visit these attractions.

Most at times, tourism is not given the five ‘’star’’ attention by successive governments and authorities in the helm of affairs, yet this same sector has played some buoyant role in the economies of past and present governments. I recalled one of the problems highlighted during the tourism day celebration which Ghana hosted last year was the lack of creativity or better still the lukewarm attitude towards innovation of events and programs at our numerous tourism sites in Ghana. It also came to light that our tourist sites in most cases are not kids/family and entertainment friendly. One of the basic understandings of tourism is that, the more time spent at a destination by tourist, the much more the tourist spends and by that equation, it goes a long way to affect the local economy as tourism touch base with the vulnerable and more marginalized in society and has been acknowledged worldwide as one of the poverty alleviation mechanisms.

That cannot be said about tourist sites in Ghana. It’s very appalling that since September 2009 when lots of pronouncements were made during the conference, there haven’t been any improvements in the area of tourism yet some managers who claim to be managing our sites and resources have the guts to skyrocket the rates one ought to pay before appreciating our great tourism resources. It is very disheartening when, as a country, one of our much touted and cherished tourist attraction being the KAKUM NATIONAL PARK has only the canopy walkway and nature walk to be proud of and yet the management (Ghana Heritage Conservation Trust) of the park have the audacity to publish in an Accra daily about the upward adjustment of site fees with effect from June 1. Below is the publication. Canopy walkway, OLD RATES: Ghanaian adult ¢3, Ghanaian student ¢1.50, Non-Ghanaian adult ¢9, Non-Ghanaian student ¢5 //NEW RATES: Ghanaian adult ¢13, Ghanaian student ¢3, Non-Ghanaian adult¢31, Non-Ghanaian student ¢16(Note: A Gate fee of 1.00 cedi which is a requisite for entry is attached) It is also a fact that, even if we pay these astronomical rates, nothing will change in terms of visitor experience which indirectly also makes the average Ghanaian a fool to be doling out his money just like that. In these difficult times, where the economic down-turn is making things more difficult for even developed countries to bear, some people in authority are just adopting the fascist style of leadership where they do not even boarder to care about the repercussions about these rates they are in love with.

If you critically analyze the new rates put out there by the management of the park, there is clearly more than 100% in some of the rates which makes it ridiculous in a time where the ministry of tourism is struggling to convince the average Ghanaians to participate in tourism since it is an undeniable facts that, local tourism contributes over 60% proceeds from the tourist sites. A Ghanaian student who uses to pay 1.50p would now have to pay a double of 3.00 cedis to enjoy a canopy walkway at the park. And very unthinkably a Ghanaian adult who use to pay 3.00 would now have to cough 12 cedis to enjoy this fascinating resource. And one which makes it more dangerous is the fact that the differences between the Ghanaian and the non Ghanaian is too huge and has the probability to derail our efforts as a country to attract foreign tourists against the backdrop that Ghana attracts business travellers than leisure travellers. How do you expect an average Ghanaian to bear with these escalating rates in our tourism enclaves?

Again we should not forget that, as a country we are struggling to orient the citizenry about the enormous benefits that we stand to derive when as locals we participate in tourism and how positive it would be for the economy. We shouldn’t be complacent about our tourism and the hospitality industry because, there are equal alternative tourist attractions around the sub region if not better placed in terms of rates and what is there to enjoy. It’s just boring for a local tourist to travel all the way from Tamale to visit Kakum national park only to enjoy the canopy walkway and nothing else to enrich the visitor experience. It will be imperative to add that, kakum national park is just one of many problems in our tourist sites.

All this goes to buttress the various assertions held by many tourism experts about the treat of the tourism sector which would have been rated ‘’budget type’’ when classified with the other sectors of the economy. Some of us still believe that, even though it is not the panacea to our problems, it still has a pivotal role to play in our economy considering its rank as the fourth highest foreign exchange earner after gold, cocoa and remittances from Ghanaians abroad. It is very unfortunate if not shocking, that the Public Relations (PR) machinery hasn’t seen any improvements in a very long time. Honestly it is rare to pick up the dailies to see a tourism dominated stories that can attract the attention of the law makers and the masses as well. Again the official website of both the Ghana Tourist board now authority and the ministry’’touringghana.com’’ is currently outdated in its news feed and surfers of the internet, finds it difficult to ascertain some reliable information. At least a weekly news letter would be a great asset in making tourism information very accessible and also trumpeting the business of tourism in Ghana.

I don’t proffer to be the repository of knowledge in the tourism industry, but it wouldn’t be the end of the problems now that, the Ghana Tourist Board has been transformed into Ghana Tourism Authority. There is no doubt that, the passage of this bill into law will bring some considerable improvement in the tourism industry especially from the view point of the Ghana Tourism Board which can have some powers to initiate some programs but there are still some nagging questions about how it will be implemented since as a country we have been perfect in passing these laws but implementation has been our nemesis. These are just few of the problems confronting our tourism industry. It is my hope and prayer that, the authorities will expedite action on some of the problems in the industry which will help curb some of these problems and especially the managerial inefficiencies in our industry.

Long live Ghana.

Kojo Bentum-Williams

Youth in Tourism Ghana (yito)

Tourism Advocate (kojofabio@gmail.com)

www.tourisminghana.blogspot.com