Tourist arrivals to Ghana include visitors from South and Latin America, Asia and Europe.[2][3] Ghana contains waterfalls such as Kintampo waterfalls and the Tagbo Falls. Ghana also contains palm-lined sandy beaches, caves, mountains, rivers, and a meteoriteimpact crater. Ghana also has several castles and forts, UNESCO World Heritage Sites, nature reserves and national parks.[2]
Beach resort and seaside resort setting in Central region.
The World Economic Forum statistics in 2010 showed that Ghana was ranked 108th out of 139 countries as the world's favourite tourism destination.[4] The country had moved two places up from the 2009 rankings. In 2011, Forbes Magazine, published that Ghana was ranked the eleventh-most friendly country in the world. The assertion was based on a survey conducted in 2010 of a cross-section of travelers. Of all the African countries that were included in the survey, Ghana ranked highest.[4] Ghana ranks as the seventieth-most stable country in the world and as the 58th–most peaceful country in the world.[5]
In 2011 Ghana made $2.19billion ($2,019,000,000) from the tourism sector, from an estimated 1.1million international tourist arrivals.[6][7] In 2012, Ghana's tourism sector made $1.7billion from 993,600 international tourists, providing employment for 359,000 people.[8] Ghana will annually make US$8.3billion from the tourism sector per year by the year 2027, on the back of an estimated 4.3million international tourist arrivals.[8][9]
Heritage tourism in Ghana is led by a festival called the Pan-African Historical Festival or PANAFEST.[12] The festival is a cultural event with the intention of increasing the notion of Pan-Africanism and African development. It consists of the festival itself as well as the celebration surrounding Emancipation Day. PANAFEST primarily takes place in two cities, Elmina and Cape Coast, which were the largest slave-trading forts in the nation. The festival takes place over eight to nine days and begins with a ceremonial wreath laying. Events during PANAFEST include carnival day, a journey of return from those located in other nations, Rita Marley's birthday, an academic lecture on the women and youth, a naming ceremony from people from the diaspora, and finally the "Reverential Night".[13]
PANAFEST is a direct manifestation of Ghanaian culture. It is also the appropriation of it and capitalization by the Rawlings administration. Indeed, Rawlings' developed international cultural festivals (including PANAFEST) are sources of income for Ghana.[14]
Tourism in Ghana: appropriated beginnings
Before the Jerry Rawlings administration in 1981, tourism in Ghana was not an effective source of income for the Ghanaian society and was thus a missed opportunity in helping to diversify the Ghanaian economy. The Rawlings administration appropriatedthe Ghanaian culture and used it as a source of revenue. Through the restoration of castles that were once used for the slave industry, establishment of public memorials honouring the "illustrious sons" of Ghana, coupled with encouragement from the government via incentives for private investments, the Rawlings administration was able to push tourism forward with the cost of capitalizing on Ghanaian culture.
The tourist industry in Ghana is known to promote sustainable tourism that includes: cultural tourism, heritage tourism, recreational tourism, adventure tourism and event tourism. Cultural tourism focuses on festivals and events, whereas heritage tourism focuses on the history of the slave routes.[citation needed] Recreational tourism allows tourists to explore beaches and theme parks. Adventure tourism takes a look at rain forests and game parks, and event tourism focuses on resources and conferences.[citation needed]
Many of the heritage tourism sites highlight the legacy of the African Diaspora and the social composition of communities. As a result, these studies have impacted the tourists' connection to the heritage tourism sites by providing cultural depth to their traing experience.[14][15]
Significance to national development
Tourism is noted to be a significant contributor to Ghana's economic growth and development.[16][17]
Transportation and traveling in Ghana
In Ghana, various methods of transportation are used by tourists. The Tro tro is one method of transportation that usually uses a minivan and are used to travel in Ghana. [18] The "hurry cars" are private cars that have set destinations and wait for passengers that are going to the set destination of the hurry car. They are typically found by transport stations and is definitely a more comfortable method of travel as opposed to a Tro Tro. The drivers of hurry cars will usually hold signs or give some type of information letting passengers know the destination they are set to go.[18]
Uber, Bolt[19] and Yango are the major ride-hailing services available.
Major tourist sites
Tourism destinations in Ghana.
Aburi Botanical Gardens – Aburi Botanical Gardens features a diverse collection of tropical plants and is a popular spot for picnics and nature walks
Kakum National Park – Kakum National Park offers opportunities for hiking and wildlife viewing in the rainforest
Digya National Park – Digya National Park is home to a rich array of wildlife, including elephants, hippos, crocodiles, antelopes, monkeys, buffalo, warthogs, and numerous bird species.
Mole National Park – Mole National Park is home to elephants, antelopes, baboons, and various bird species.
Ankasa National park – Ankasa National Park is home to an impressive array of wildlife, including various primate species, mammals, and numerous bird species, including the endangered yellow-headed picathartes.
1 2 Jemima., Pierre (2013). The predicament of blackness: postcolonial Ghana and the politics of race. The University of Chicago Press. ISBN9780226923024. OCLC819853928.
↑ Yankholmes, A., & McKercher, B. (2015). "Understanding visitors to slavery heritage sites in Ghan". Tourism Management. 51: 22–32. doi:10.1016/j.tourman.2015.04.003.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
Ghana, officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country in West Africa. It abuts the Gulf of Guinea and the Atlantic Ocean to the south, sharing a border with Ivory Coast in the west, Burkina Faso in the north, and Togo in the east. Ghana covers an area of 239,567 km2 (92,497 sq mi), spanning diverse biomes that range from coastal savannas to tropical rainforests. With over 32 million inhabitants, Ghana is the second-most populous country in West Africa. The capital and largest city is Accra; other significant cities include Kumasi, Tamale, and Sekondi-Takoradi.
Tourism in India is 4.6% of the country's gross domestic product (GDP). Unlike other sectors, tourism is not a priority sector for the Government of India. Forbes magazine ranked India as the 7th most beautiful country in 'The 50 Most Beautiful Countries In The World' rankings. The World Travel and Tourism Council calculated that tourism generated ₹13.2 lakh crore (US$170 billion) or 5.8% of India's GDP and supported 32.1 million jobs in 2021. Even though, these numbers were lower than the pre-pandemic figures; the country's economy witnessed a significant growth in 2021 after the massive downturn during 2020. The sector is predicted to grow at an annual rate of 7.8% to ₹33.8 lakh crore (US$420 billion) by 2031. India has established itself as the 5th largest global travel healthcare destination with an estimated market size of around $9 billion in 2019, out of the total global travel healthcare industry of $44.8 billion(2019). In 2014, 184,298 foreign patients travelled to India to seek medical treatment.
Cape Coast is a city, fishing port, and the capital of Cape Coast Metropolitan District and Central Region of Ghana. It is one of the country's most historic cities, a World Heritage Site, home to the Cape Coast Castle, with the Gulf of Guinea situated to its south. According to the 2010 census, Cape Coast had a settlement population of 169,894 people. The language of the people of Cape Coast is Fante.
Elmina Castle was erected by the Portuguese in 1482 as Castelo de São Jorge da Mina, also known as Castelo da Mina or simply Mina, in present-day Elmina, Ghana, formerly the Gold Coast. It was the first trading post built on the Gulf of Guinea, and the oldest European building in existence south of the Sahara.
Kakum National Park, located in the coastal environs of the Central Region of Ghana, covers an area of 375 square kilometres (145 sq mi). Established in 1931 as a reserve, it was gazetted as a national park only in 1992 after an initial survey of avifauna was conducted. The area is covered with tropical forest. The uniqueness of this park lies in the fact that it was established at the initiative of the local people and not by the State Department of wildlife who are responsible for wildlife preservation in Ghana. It is one of only 3 locations in Africa with a canopy walkway, which is 350 metres (1,150 ft) long and connects seven tree tops which provides access to the forest.
The Central Region is one of the sixteen administrative regions of Ghana. It is bordered by Ashanti and Eastern regions to the north, Western region to the west, Greater Accra region to the east, and to the south by the Gulf of Guinea. The Central Region is renowned for its many elite high schools and an economy based on an abundance of industrial minerals and tourism. The Central region boasts of many tourist attractions such as castles, forts and beaches dotted along the region's coastline.
Articles related to Ghana include:
The Ankasa Conservation Area is an area in southwestern Ghana, in Ghana's Western Region, about 365 kilometres west of Accra near the border with Côte d'Ivoire. It incorporates the Nini Suhien National Park in the North, and the Ankasa Forest Reserve in the South.
Tourism in Pakistan is a growing industry. In 2010, Lonely Planet termed Pakistan "tourism's 'next big thing'". The country is geographically and ethnically diverse, and has a number of historical and cultural heritage sites. Condé Nast Traveller ranked Pakistan The Best Holiday Destination for 2020 and also declared it the third-highest potential adventure destination in the world for 2020. As security in the country improves, tourism increases; in two years, it has increased by more than 300%. The Pakistani government had launched online visa services for 175 countries and 50 countries were offered visa on arrival, making visiting Pakistan easier. The country received an influx of travel vloggers, who promoted the characteristics of the country, such as in the Northern Pakistan, like Hunza and Skardu.
Nzulezo is a village located near the village of Beyin, 90 kilometers west of Takoradi, in the Jomoro District jomoro the Western Region of Ghana. Over 500 people live in the community.
Rajasthan is one of the most popular tourist destinations in India, for both domestic and international tourists. Rajasthan attracts tourists for its historical forts, palaces, art and culture with its slogan "Padharo Mhare Desh " The capital city, Jaipur, also known as Pink City, is a very popular tourist destination and is a part of the Golden Triangle. The Walled City of Jaipur is only the second Indian city to be recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, after Ahmedabad.
Genealogy tourism, sometimes called roots tourism, is a segment of the tourism market consisting of tourists who have ancestral connections to their holiday destination. These genealogy tourists travel to the land of their ancestors to reconnect with their past and "walk in the footsteps of their forefathers".
The Assin-Attandanso Game Production Reserve is a protected area in the Central Region of Ghana which falls in the IUCN Category VI. The site which is adjacent to the Kakum National Park was established in 1991. The area of the site is 139.86 square kilometres (54.00 sq mi).
The Ministry of Tourism, Arts & Culture (MoTAC) Ghana is the government ministry responsible for the development and promotion of tourism-related activities in the country.
Kintampo is a town and tourist destination in the Bono East Region of Ghana. It became the capital of Kintampo North Municipal in 2004. Kintampo has a population of 111 000. It also served as the capital of the former Kintampo District. Kintampo also has a Senior High School which is located at Kyeremankoma. There is a college of health called Kintampo College of Health and Well-being (CoHK) in the town. Most of the population in Kintampo are farmers, with production focused on yams, maize, legumes, tubers and other vegetables. Both the Bono and the Mo tribe are indigenous to the region. Kintampo is a cosmopolitan town, apart from the indigenous tribe, other tribes like the Wangaras, Gonjas, Konkombas and others are also inhabitants of the town. The annual Benkadi Kurubi festival of the Wangara community in Ghana always takes place at Kintampo.
Kintampo waterfalls is one of Ghana' highest waterfalls located in Bono East. It was formerly known as Sanders Falls during the colonial days. It is located on the Pumpum river, a tributary of the Black Volta, about 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) north of the Kintampo municipality, on the Kumasi–Tamale road. It is just after the Falls Rest Stop when moving Northwards, on the right side of the road. This waterfall is hidden in the forest and formed by three main drops, with the longest measuring 25 metres (82 ft), followed by a number of steps and cascades, and the river, which falls about 70 metres (230 ft).
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. To know more about places you can visit, the visitghana website can be accessed for enquiries.
The Bono East region of Ghana is a new region carved out of the Brong Ahafo region. The capital of the new region is Techiman. This creation of this new region was in fulfillment of a promise made by the New Patriotic Party prior to the 2016 Ghana general election. Upon winning the elections, the President, Nana Akuffo Addo created the Ministry of Regional Reorganization to oversee policy formulation and implementation. In all six new regions are to be created from the existing ten regions of Ghana. The other regions are Bono, Western North, Ahafo, Savannah, North East, and Oti regions.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
Kakum National Park – National Park.
Mole National Park – National Park.
Mole National Park Tourism in Ghana.
Tourist taking photo of elephants with iPad at Mole National Park in Ghana.
Cape Coast Castle – UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Elmina Castle – UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Boti Waterfalls.
