Tourism has become important to the growth of any economy, which is why so many countries are now reviewing and developing their tourism policies.
As these policies develop, we see positive growth across the board in prospective business and job creation. From hospitality management to game reserves tour guides, the tourism industry has been making positive strides toward building brighter futures, not only for the youth but for the economy too, establishing itself as a sector influential to Ghana. In South Africa for instance, the tourism industry contributed 2.9% to its GDP, creating over 40,000 net new Jobs between 2012 and 2016, employing more than utilities and mining combined. In Ghana, tourism plays a very significant role in poverty alleviation through income generation, employment and infrastructural development for the local communities where tourist attractions are situated.
Ghana has many tourist attractions including the Kakum National Park, Aburi Botanical Gardens, Canopy Walkway, Mole National Park, Paga Crocodile Pond, Buabeng Fiema Monkey Sanctuary etc. Government is not accruing enough revenue from the tourist industry because of lack of effective and holistic coordination of activities of the industry. Tourists visit our tourist sites spend money on accommodation, entrance fees, transport. Small scale businesses in these communities benefit from their activities. Carvers (artisans) in Aburi for instance benefit from the visits to the Botanical Gardens. People who visit the Garden including foreigners patronise their artwork and invite the artisans to home countries. Ghana is losing some of these tourist sites because of lack of interest, activities of some unscrupulous investors and supervision.
There should be a focus on tourism for the country by creating facilities and experiences at a price point and with the local people in mind. Then to do everything possible to make the local guest feel relaxed and at home.
The Amen Amen Institute in partnership will soon develop the Nyanao mountain and its environ into a first class tourist site with quality modern facilities. The draft plan for the projected was presented to some selected members of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Tourism and approved by the Nsawam-Adoagyiri Municipal Assembly. It is estimated that the project when completed, will create over 5000 formal and informal Jobs in for the youth in the area. Projects captured in the draft plan include hotels, recreational facilities, Parks, modern houses etc.
Activities of our Chinese friends in collaboration with some unscrupulous persons in our communities is destroying our God given tourist sites. Activities of some local and foreign companies is destroying our mountains and other tourist sites. The Chinese have taken over the Nsawam-Adoagyiri- Adeiso, Coaltar, Otoase enclaves destroying the environment.
The development of small scale industries and application of appropriate modern technology leading to a sustained development and promotion of tourism imply the generation of employment and general improvement in living standards through revenue and income generation. Amen Amen institute’s project and its sustained development and promotion of tourism in the community will put the sector in a better position to receive potential investments. The chiefs, opinion leaders and the youth in the community recently demonstrated against activities of the Chinese in the area and called on government to act on the matter.