GHANA: TOURISM DEVELOPMENT PLANSBy Jean Lukaz MIH

Box 1

TOURISM FEASIBILITY STUDIES IN GHANAUNDP 1973USAID 1973FX IMPACT 1973TOURISM MULTIPLIER EFFECTS USIESC 1975

Box 2

15 year Tourism Development Plan 1975-1990Goal: To guide tourism planning during the periodTargets: Achieve an annual growth rate of 12.5%Increase in international tourist arrivals from 64,000 in 1975 to 357,000 per annum by 1990Increase average length of stay from 4 to 9.4 daysIncrease number of hotels from 900 in 1975 to more than 13,000 in 1990Create 36,000 new direct and indirect jobs annuallyIncrease foreign exchange earnings at a rate of $58m per annum

Box 3

15 YEAR TOURISM DEVELOPMENT PLAN 1996-2010Goal:To transform Ghana into a major tourism destinationTargets:Increase annual international tourist arrivals from 286,000 in 1995 to 1,062,000 in 2010Develop Ecotourism based on abundant natural resource attractionsDevelop Heritage Tourism based on cultural attractions related to the slave trade and attract Africans in the Diaspora (USA and Caribbean)Increase number of beds from 3,420 in 1995 to 11,350 in 2010

Box 4

STRATEGIC ACTION PLAN 2003-2007

Vision: Realise the Potential of the Tourism Sector in the country's economy by

generating growth of 20% p.a. by the year 2007Goal: To Make Ghana a Competitive & Quality Tourism Destination within the

Framework of Respect for the Country's Cultural, historical and EnvironmentalHeritage.

Purpose: To Make Ghana A Preferred Destination in Africa by the End of Year 2007Targets by 2007Increase Tourism Arrivals to 1 millionMake Tourism the largest Employer after Agriculture & RetailingMake Tourism the Largest Employer in the Formal Sector + 300,000 jobsIncrease Tourism Forex Earnings from Current US$500m to US$1.5bBoost domestic tourismEstablish Ghana as the "Homeland” for African in the DiasporaChallengesHigh Cost Destination Poor Infrastructural Development Inadequate, untrained human resources Poor marketing Law awareness Lack of Investment Underdeveloped production

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GHANA POVERTY REDUCTION STRATEGY II 2006-2009: FOCUS ON TOURISM

Goals: Effective aggressive promotion of Ghana as a competitive tourist destinationFacilitating the development of modern capital city for the purpose of tourism

and businessHarmonization, standardization and expansion of national tourism training

programsCreating conducive environment for private sector investment in quality

product development Facilitating infrastructure development at all major tourist sitesVigorous promotion of domestic tourism to encourage Ghanaians to appreciate

their national heritage and create wealth for rural communitiesImproving the IT based tourism data management and disseminationPromoting community-based large, medium and small scale enterprisesImproving the coverage of registered and licensed tourism plants

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GHANA TOURISM INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK: PUBLIC & PRIVATE SECTOR

Main Policy BodyMinistry of Tourism (1993)Ministry of Tourism & Modernisation of the Capital City (2003)Ministry of Tourism & Diasporan Relations (2006)

Implementing AgenciesGhana Tourist Board (GTB)Hotel, Catering and Tourism Training Institute (HOTCATT)Ghana Tourism Development Company Ltd (GTDC)

Linked Ministries, Departments & Agencies (MDAs)Ministry of Lands, Forestry and Mines Wildlife Division of Forestry CommissionNational Commission on CultureMuseums and Monuments BoardCentre for National CultureGhana Civil Aviation Authority

Private SectorGhana Tourism Federation (GHATOF)

Box 7

TOURISM RELATED ASSISTANCE BY INTERNATIONAL AGENCIES 1973-2006

1973: United Nations Development Program (UNDP) - Feasibility Studies1973: United States Agency for International Development (USAID) - Feasibility Studies1974: Danish Government - 15 year Tourism Development Plan 1975-19901995: UNDP/World Tourism Organisation (WTO) - 15 year Tourism Development Plan 1996-20102001: USAID/Ghana Tourism-Led Economic Growth Promotion Program **2002-4: Nederlands Development Organisation (SNV) - Community-Based Ecotourism Projects (CBEP)2002-4: Peace Corps (CBEP)2005: Nederlands Development Organisation (SNV)- Needs Assessment for Capacity Development (GHATOF)2005: Nederlands Development Organisation (SNV)- Stakeholders’ Workshop for Tourism Policy Review 14-15 September2003-4: USAID/Tourism Capacity Development Initiative (TCDI)- Marketing and Product DevelopmentHuman Resource DevelopmentInstitutional Capacity DevelopmentPolicy and Regulation EnhancementTourism Management Information Systems2006: Nederlands Development Organisation (SNV)- Preparation of Land Use Plans for 21 Receptive FacilitiesElmina Tourism Project with European Commission (EC) and Aid to Artisans2006: European Commission (EC)- Elmina Tourism Project with Nederlands Development Organisation (SNV)2006: Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) 2006-8- Tourism Development Project through Strengthening Public-Private Partnership