Ghana raked in $1.8bn from tourism in 2010

[Sokotocaliphate]

The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Tourism Authority [GTA], Julius Debrah has disclosed that Ghana earned some $1.8 billion from tourism in 2010.The figure, he noted, was realized from some 950,000 tourists who visited the country within the period.

Speaking on Multi TV’s current affairs show, pm: EXPRESS, Mr. Debrah said if the country comes to terms with the fact that its tourism base has to be expanded and developed, tourism revenue will shoot up and projects can be funded with the revenue accrued from the sector.

According to the GTA boss, Ghana’s tourism potentials have a certain uniqueness about them which other competitors lack and called for the harnessing of these unique qualities to the benefit of the citizenry.

Parliament recently passed the Ghana Tourism Authority bill [Act 817] which upgraded the Ghana Tourist Board to an Authority now known as the Ghana Tourism Authority [GTA]. The GTA is expected, among others, to promote the sustainable development of the country’s tourism industry both internally and internationally.

A Tourism lecturer at Zenith College, Jacob Oti Awere, who was also on the show, lauded the new law which set up the GTA describing it as an enormous improvement over the old LI that was in operation. He was particularly happy that the new law criminalizes sex tourism.

Mr. Oti Awere noted that the previous Ghana Tourist Board had very little control over certain resources used to promote tourism in the country such as the museums, monuments, wildlife, forestry, etc.

According to him, the new law makes room for a multi-sectoral approach in addressing issues on the tourism front by ensuring that there is government representation on the GTA from the Ministries of Chieftaincy, Lands and the Forestry Commission as well as the Ghana Museums and Monuments Board.

He was worried that the “previous law did not make Ghana a best tourism practice place” and urged the GTA to take advantage of their upgraded status to rope in the private sector to support investments in the tourism sector.

Jacob Oti Awere also tasked the GTA to consider adopting the pricing mechanism used by the Wild Life division who beat down prices for locals who visit tourist sites in a bid to encourage local tourism.

According to him, “price discrimination is allowed in tourism” and asked that conscious efforts be made to introduce incentives such as rebates for a pack of tourists to further encourage patronage.

The GTA Chief Executive however revealed that Ghana is doing well in the area of educational tourism and hinted that plans are underway to make souvenirs available at the various tourist sites so that people who visit such sites can purchase them to show that they visited specific tourist locations in the country.

He noted that the dependence of the former Tourist Board on government limited their output in the past since they existed solely on government subventions. He however noted that the tourism sector will take on a new phase once the necessary legal provisions for the sector are in place.

Impressive

[Tbite]

How much does Nigeria get from tourism

I don't mean in a competitive manner. I just want to use Ghana as a case study for what can be achieved in Nigeria.

Great for Ghana

[Sokotocaliphate]

Originally Posted by Tbite

How much does Nigeria get from tourism

Dammit Tbite why didn't you ask this question in the Nigeria thread...erm Nigeria's one is.... you know Naija no dey carry last ...2 million...I don't really know

I don't mean in a competitive manner. I just want to use Ghana as a case study for what can be achieved in Nigeria.

Great for Ghana

lol my friend Nigeria's case and situation is very different from Ghana but thank God for Calabar sha....Ghana does have a unique position in as much as they are pretty much viewed as the gateway to Africa by Diasporans and it has positioned itself under such merit ...and they have Elmina Castle etc plus more importantly they are well...actually investing in that sector...Nigeria is somewhat as well but..lol there's always a but innit image helps too abi.....out of that tourist number I actually wonder how many are Nigerians

[diko]

Africa in general has so much tourism potential it's sad to see it underutilized. I'm sure there will be a lot of Nigerian tourists included in those figures and if they get their act together they could be like the Chinese of Africa. Most touristic agencies in South-East Asia now target Chinese tourists who not only travel in large numbers, but also spend a lot as well.

[Sokotocaliphate]

Originally Posted by diko

Africa in general has so much tourism potential it's sad to see it underutilized. I'm sure there will be a lot of Nigerian tourists included in those figures and if they get their act together they could be like the Chinese of Africa. Most touristic agencies in South-East Asia now target Chinese tourists who not only travel in large numbers, but also spend a lot as well.

yeah that's good for our neighbours but whose gonna shower some dollars/pounds/nairas our way

we want to develop our tourism too not just admiring and visiting other peoples own...in the past Nigeria's tourism was decent so we are aware it's still attainable but then there is the image obstacle

P.S. I think by year 2011/12 Ghana would have acquired a million +/_ tourists

[Simfan34]

I bet we'll break the 1mil barrier this year.

Excellent. Now hotel growth in other cities needs to keep up with the pace in Accra.

[èđđeůx]

I've gotta say I'm a little surprised at Ghana's tourist numbers. I always thought East African countries (Kenya, Tanzania) were pretty much the largest receivers of tourist in SSA outside of South Africa.

[Sokotocaliphate]

Originally Posted by èđđeůx

I've gotta say I'm a little surprised at Ghana's tourist numbers. I always thought East African countries (Kenya, Tanzania) were pretty much the largest receivers of tourist in SSA outside of South Africa.

erm they are for now....i.e. Kenya's tourists exceeds millions . . .

[Naija Attitude]

Originally Posted by Sokotocaliphate

erm they are for now....i.e. Kenya's tourists exceeds millions . . .

you sharrap !!

[Sokotocaliphate]

Originally Posted by Naija Attitude

you sharrap !!

[Naija Attitude]

Ive always said it, Ghana is the best organized society in West and Central Africa... think what they could do with something like Tinapa and Obudu resorts... Nigeria is not a tourist attraction and wont be for a while.

[HerachioBlo]

Originally Posted by Naija Attitude

Ive always said it, Ghana is the best organized society in West and Central Africa... think what they could do with something like Tinapa and Obudu resorts... Nigeria is not a tourist attraction and wont be for a while.

because nigerians don't understand tourism

Nigeria should work on having Nigerian tourists not international ones

almost all of america's tourism is supported by american tourists, this is how bigger nations operate.

If a rich family and Taraba knew about resorts in Akwa Ibom it's buisness, but most nigerians don't know ANY of the resorts or tourist locations in nigeria and their understand of nigeria = their ancestral home + Lagos or a few major cities they have something to do with directly.


when a nigerian in the US wants to go back to nigeria they just think 'go back to the village and chill' but the same person will pay good money to go do in Mexico what he could have done in Calabar had he driven a few hours or minutes.






most of Ghana's tourists are Nigerians. Ghana is a popularvacation spot for Nigerian professionals because Ghana has done a good job advertising it's self.


Nigeria sucks at advertising it's good qualities. 88% of nigerians don't know about Eko Atlantic. The one nigerian i heard tell me about it thought they were 'building a new capital in Lagos'

[niireo]

$MILLION
2008 2009
GHANA 919 968
KENYA 752 690
NIGERIA 573 608

FROM UNWTOhttp://www.unwto.org/facts/eng/pdf/b...rom10_3_en.pdf

[jeff91]

Originally Posted by niireo

$MILLION
2008 2009
GHANA 919 968
KENYA 752 690
NIGERIA 573 608

FROM UNWTOhttp://www.unwto.org/facts/eng/pdf/b...rom10_3_en.pdf

kenya does not charge its tourist enough

[èđđeůx]

no charging isn't the greatest way to go! I'm assuming Ghana gets more spending per capita from tourist than Kenya.

Originally Posted by Sokotocaliphate

erm they are for now....i.e. Kenya's tourists exceeds millions . . .

Tanzania is close to 1 million too.

Originally Posted by niireo

$MILLION
2008 2009
GHANA 919 968
KENYA 752 690
NIGERIA 573 608

FROM UNWTOhttp://www.unwto.org/facts/eng/pdf/b...rom10_3_en.pdf

That list is old. Kenya already has over a 1 million, hit it last year.

[nairoberry]

Originally Posted by niireo

$MILLION
2008 2009
GHANA 919 968
KENYA 752 690
NIGERIA 573 608

FROM UNWTOhttp://www.unwto.org/facts/eng/pdf/b...rom10_3_en.pdf

keep in mind that kenya had the post election violence in those two years.

[TshabalalaGH]

Originally Posted by nairoberry

keep in mind that kenya had the post election violence in those two years.

someone sed those numbers were old and kenya exceeded 1 mil anyway. no worries, u're good

[Xusein]

Quite impressive. Makes sense though, Ghana is one of the more tourist friendly African nations.

[popa1980]

These figures are nonsense. Tourism stats in Africa are generally a pile of rubbish. I doubt that there are really almost 1 million tourists going to Ghana annually. Most of that figure is expatriates returning home to visit family. Im counted as a tourist for example. The figure for "real" tourists would be much, much less.

[jeff91]

Originally Posted by popa1980

These figures are nonsense. Tourism stats in Africa are generally a pile of rubbish. I doubt that there are really almost 1 million tourists going to Ghana annually. Most of that figure is expatriates returning home to visit family. Im counted as a tourist for example. The figure for "real" tourists would be much, much less.

really is there any good news that you your going to say something positive i mean for real... all the time