The Ghana Tourism Authority is a

Ghanaian Ghana (; tw, Gaana, ee, Gana), 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 borders with Ivory Coast in Ghana–Ivory Coast border, the west, Burkina ...

state agency A government or state agency, sometimes an appointed commission, is a permanent or semi-permanent organization in the machinery of government The machinery of government (sometimes abbreviated as MoG) is the interconnected structures and proc ...

under the

Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts The Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts of Ghana is the government ministry responsible for the development and promotion of tourism-related activities in the country. Functions of the Ministry The ministry functions to develop and ...

responsible for the regulation of tourism in Ghana by marketing, promoting, licensing, classifying, researching and developing

tourism Tourism is travel for pleasure or business; also the theory and practice of touring (disambiguation), touring, the business of attracting, accommodating, and entertaining tourists, and the business of operating tour (disambiguation), tours. Th ...

facilities and services in the country. To know more about places you can visit, the visitghana website can be accessed for enquiries.

History

The Ghana Tourism Authority was established in 1960 as the Ghana Tourist Board. The board was renamed as the

Ghana Ghana (; tw, Gaana, ee, Gana), 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 borders with Ivory Coast in the west, Burkina Faso in the north, and To ...

Tourism Authority in 2011 under act 817. The act extended the tasks of the agency to overseeing the implementation of government policies in the industry. The act also makes the agency a fully-fledged income generating authority by establishing a fund to which every tourism business is required to contribute one percent (1%) of its revenue for tourism development. The Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture oversees eleven agencies, including the Ghana Tourism Authority, National Theatre of Ghana, and others, focusing on policy formulation and monitoring. Throughout its history, the Ghana Tourism Authority has consistently fulfilled its crucial function as the primary executing body for the promotion and global marketing of tourism, both within the country and on the international stage. In recent times, tourism has boomed in Ghana and

Africa Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia in both cases. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of Earth's total surface area ...

, becoming more exciting and educational. In 2015, there were 897,000 arrivals, boosting businesses and the economy. The Ghana Tourism Authority actively supports the tourism industry by fostering sustainable development and enabling the provision of quality tourism services and products. Tourism in Ghana has been instrumental in promoting networking and employment opportunities. Ghana holds the distinction of being the first African nation to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the arrival of enslaved Africans from Jamestown,

Accra Accra (; tw, Nkran; dag, Ankara; gaa, Ga or ''Gaga'') is the capital and largest city of Ghana, located on the southern coast at the Gulf of Guinea, which is part of the Atlantic Ocean. As of 2021 census, the Accra Metropolitan District, , ...

, to Jamestown in

Virginia Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States, between the Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains. The geography and climate of the Commonwealth ar ...

USA The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...

, in 1619. Ghana's historical significance and peaceful multicultural society make it a highly recommended tourist destination. The Ghana Tourism Authority is resolute in ensuring the highest standards in Ghana's Tourism and Hospitality sector to maintain its position as the top tourist destination in Africa.

Notable Initiatives

The Ghana Tourism Authority has instituted some days annually to celebrate various themes in the country.

Year of Return

In 2019, The Year of Return, organized by The Ghana Tourism Authority, was a year-long initiative featuring tours, celebrations, and cultural events. Its aim was to encourage African Americans and the African diaspora to visit their ancestral homeland, boost tourism, and provide economic aid to Ghana. This initiative marked the 400th anniversary of the arrival of enslaved Africans in Jamestown, Virginia, during the Transatlantic Slave Trade. The Year of Return drew in around one million visitors and boosted the economy by an estimated $1.9 billion. It had a transformative impact on attendees' lives beyond its economic success. One of the most unforgettable destinations that was visited is the Elmina Slave Castle, a significant edifice from the era of the Transatlantic slave trade, situated approximately three hours away from Accra, near Cape Coast.

Tourist Sites

Adventure

Bia National Park

Bia National Park is one-third of the Bia Conservancy Area, a biosphere reserve spanning 306 sq km. It's in the transitional zone between two types of tropical forests, and it protects the Bia River's drainage area. Established in 1935, it became a

national park A national park is a nature park, natural park in use for conservation (ethic), conservation purposes, created and protected by national governments. Often it is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state dec ...

in 1974. Bia National Park is in the Western North Region, west of Takoradi, with road access from Kumasi via Bibiani or from Tarkwa-Sefwi via Wiawso road. The best time for game viewing is from November to April during the long dry season, while the rainy seasons in May to June and September to October are less ideal due to slippery roads and colder weather.

References

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External links

Official Website
Tourism in Ghana 1960 establishments in Ghana