--本文原刊载于环球网（Huanqiu.com）“西非漫谈”栏目

链接：https://opinion.huanqiu.com/article/4AfXCQxcBYD

（作者：电子科技大学西非研究中心团队，执笔人：ABIGAIL AKAKPO（电子科技大学西非研究中心团队成员） 【西非漫谈】2022年第十七期，总第六十六期。译者：赵韵涵（外国语学院）；校对：陈思雨（外国语学院）；整理：黄锐（公共管理学院）、孟雅琪（公共管理学院）；供稿：电子科技大学西非研究中心团队)

1.0 Introduction

Tourism in Ghana can be traced back to the administration of the late former President Rawlings around the 1980s. Prior to his tenure, tourism was a lucrative endeavor and a source of income for Ghanaian society. However, the Rawlings administration of the time saw this opportunity and seized it, with the ultimate goal of embracing Ghanaian culture and using it as a source of income. Flight Lieutenant Jerry John Rawlings therefore started heritage tourism as a means of economic development in Ghana. Under his initiative, the forts and castles of Ghana, a place where enslaved Africans were forcibly loaded onto slave ships to cross the Atlantic into slavery in the western part of the world, were turned into heritage sites for tourism. It united Africans and African descendants living in diaspora. Ghana's main exports in the 1980s were cocoa, gold and timber. So the idea for tourism was unexpected at the time, but the late former President (Rawlings) worked with some of his ministers who supported him by promoting cultural heritage such as forts and castles, natural heritage, performance and the arts, including the Pan-African Festival (PANAFEST). Ghana's ministry of tourism is solely in charge of the industry and is therefore accountable for promoting tourism-related activities there. Through partnerships, investments, aggressive marketing, and preservation of the nation's extensive cultural, historical, and environmental heritage, Ghana hopes to become a destination that is highly competitive internationally and of high quality. Ghana’s tourism from there picked up tremendously seeing a significant contribution to national growth and development.

Tourists pose for pictures at the Cape Coast Castle in Ghana.

Source: natalija gormalova/afp via getty images

The third-largest contributor to Ghana's GDP is tourism, which has helped the nation's economy expand since its start in the 1980s. Tourism has benefited from increased levels of FDI every year since that time. To capitalize on the increased interest in Ghana as a tourist destination around the world, the "Year of Return" campaign, which was launched in 2019 and targeted the diaspora population, is being utilized as a blueprint for future tourism marketing campaigns. The country also has the opportunity to boost domestic tourism and develop top location tourism categories, such as surfing and other water sports, historical sites, national parks, and animal reserves, in order to aid the West African nation in attracting a diverse demography of tourists in the future.

Year of return – celebrating 400 years of African resilience.

Source: www.yearofreturn.com

Ghana is one of the most popular travel destinations in West Africa. The majority of tourists are from the United States, Nigeria and the United Kingdom as it is an English speaking nation. For example, more than 39,000 Americans traveled to the nation in 2020. A total of 355,000 tourists arrived this year, most of whom came for family, business and holiday reasons.

Top Tourist Sites in Ghana

Aburi Botanical Gardens, Kakum National Park, Mole National Park, Cape Coast Castle, Elmina Castle, Nzulezo, Boti Water falls, Labadi Beach Resort, Lake bosomtwe, wli waterfalls, lakeside marina park, the manhyia palace, Kwame Nkrumah memorial park and mausoleum and Kumasi zoological gardens.

2.0 Different Side Attraction Sites / Resources in Ghana

2.1 Heritage Tourism

The Pan-African Historical Festival, or Panafest, is the main event for heritage tourism in Ghana. The festival is a cultural gathering with the goal of popularizing Pan-Africanism and the advancement of Africa. PANAFEST is largely held in the central Ghanaian cities of Elmina and Cape Coast, which were once the biggest slave-trading forts in the country. The event lasts for eight or nine days and kicks off with the placing of a ceremonial wreath. PANAFEST events include a carnival day, a trip of return for those who are abroad, a lecture on women and youth, a naming ceremony for diaspora residents, and finally "Reverential Night." Ghanaian culture is directly reflected in PANAFEST. It is also appropriation and capitalization by the Rawlings administration. Indeed, Rawlings' efforts to promote tourism in Ghana have been successful in generating cash for Ghana through the development of international cultural festivals such as PANAFEST.

2.2 Historical Tourism

Historical tourist attractions in Ghana include the Elmina and Cape Coast castles, as well as the Manhyia Palace Museum, which has historical items and remnants from Ashanti kings. religious structures like the Larabanga Mosque, one of West Africa's oldest mosques.

Natural or environmentally friendly landmark. 222 mammal species, 128 reptile species, 38 amphibian species, and 721 bird species make up the wildlife. There are 20 national parks and reserves in Ghana, which occupy around 5% of the total land area. Sand beaches, waterfalls (Kintampo Waterfall, Wli Waterfall, and Boti Waterfall), lakes (Lake Bosomtwe and Volta Lake), animal sanctuaries (Wechiau Hippo Sanctuary, Paga Crocodile Pond, Mole National Park, and monkey sanctuaries among others), and lakes (Lake Bosomtwe and Volta Lake) are all present along the 540. Additional man-made attractions (e.g. Akosombo Dam, conference facilities, casinos, art galleries, vibrant nightlife, hotels, etc.). Sports and leisure travel (e.g. paragliding, water sports, football, boxing, golf, etc).

3.0 Tourism Contribution to Employment

Over 272,000 jobs in the travel and tourism sector were expected in Ghana as at the year 2020, thanks in large part to the tourist industry. In terms of direct employment contribution, the sector recorded a share of 4.2 percent in the same year. Even though this represented a lesser percentage than in previous years, the industry's expanding interest in tourism continues to be a growth driver. The government of Ghana also launched the Year of Return 2019 to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the arrival of enslaved Africans in Jamestown as part of its attempts to boost tourism in the country. This event is open to visitors from all around the world. As a result, the economy of the country was strengthened. Over $3.7 billion in revenue from travel and tourism was added to Ghana's GDP that year.

3.1 Hotels and Accommodation

In Ghana, the number of hotels and other accommodations for tourists has been rising substantially in recent years. However, a significant decrease was noticed in 2020, presumably as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic's severe effects. However, as of that year, more than 3,500 businesses have licenses to offer lodging services in the nation. Tourists stayed in these lodging facilities, the majority of which were 3-5 star hotels, for an average of 8 to 14 days. The Moven-pick Ambassador Hotel and Golden Tulip Hotel had the most hotel rooms in Greater Accra, the area that includes the capital of the country, in 2022, with an average of more than 230 rooms per hotel. The total contribution of hotels and restaurants to Ghana's GDP in 2020 was little under 3.9 billion Ghanaian cedis, or about 520 million US dollars.

4.0 Post Covid-19 Tourism Initiative and Actions

The Covid-19 pandemic is slowly being overcome by Ghana's tourism industry. It continues to draw foreign investment and contribute significantly to Ghana's GDP. With its well-known historical monuments, 334 miles of Atlantic coastline, some of West Africa's most beautiful beaches, national parks, and wildlife reserves, Ghana has the ability to further enhance its tourism infrastructure and services. There are additional chances in specialized industries like ecotourism, water parks, and other entertainment hubs, as well as water sports like surfing.

One million more foreign tourists are expected to arrive in Ghana in 2022, according to the country's Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture (MoTAC). International tourism is essential to the recovery of the hotel industry in particular. Around 800,000 domestic tourists arrive each year, which is a consistent amount. The MoTAC estimates that the industry will generate $2.3 billion in sales this year, up from $2.1 billion in 2021, when Covid travel difficulties and limitations were at their worst.  

To entice European and foreign visitors to Ghana, President Akufo-Addo inaugurated a new tourism marketing initiative named "Destination Ghana" in London. Local hotels and other players in the tourism industry are also reevaluating each of their own marketing plans. Destination Ghana is a successful follow-up to the year-long program of events known as the 2019 Year of the Return, which was created to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the first documented arrival of enslaved Africans in the state of Virginia. The Beyond the Return campaign's second phase, which was originally scheduled to launch in 2020 but was delayed because of the Covid epidemic. Particularly the historical sites along Ghana's Cape Coast continue to be popular with Americans and other members of the global diaspora.

A number of Covid-19 related travel requirements have been eliminated, according to the Ghanaian government. Prior to traveling to Ghana, there is no longer a requirement for negative quick PCR tests, and the $150 antigen test that was once necessary upon arrival in Ghana has been phased out. (As in most nations, these policies could alter based on upcoming Covid-related developments.) Nowadays, the only prerequisite for visitors to Ghana is documentation of a complete COVID-19 vaccination that has been authorized by Ghana's Food and Drugs Authority (FDA).

Pictorial view of some popular tourist sites in Ghana

Mole National Park - Source: Easy Track Ghana

The Village of Nzulezo - Source: traveloghana.com

Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park

References

"Ministry of Tourism & Modernization of The Capital City". www.ghanaweb.com. Retrieved 3 June 2014.

"Trade Expo International Ghana". uniquetrustex.com. Archived from the original on 1 May 2013. Retrieved 3 June 2014.

https://www.clacified.com

"Forbes: Ghana is eleventh friendliest nation". www.vibeghana.com. Retrieved 3 June 2014.

office.accra@trade.gov

"About the Global Peace Index". Vision of Humanity. 2013.

Sakyi, Kwesi Atta (29 November 2012). "Tapping Deep into our Tourism Potential in Ghana". ghanaweb.com. Retrieved 3 June 2014.

Doris, Dokua Sasu (May 24, 2022). “The tourism industry in Ghana – statistics & facts”

Journal of Heritage Tourism