– Pauline Lalondrelle and Lara Maye
Ghana is blessed with many resources, both natural and cultural. If the country is known for its gold, oil and diamonds it also hosts national parks and reserves, historical castles and forts, unique arts and cultural traditions. Possessing rich tourism resources, the country could use these in a sustainable manner to make a significant impact on both its people and the economy.[1]
Policies promoting sustainable tourism development is essential in delivering social and economic development[2] so, what is the Ghanaian tourism policy, its objectives and its desired outcomes?
Tourism public policy: who is in charge in Ghana
A public policy can be defined as “a relatively stable, purposive course of action followed by government in dealing with some problem or matter of concern”[3]. The particularity of tourism public policy is the diversity of its actors’ stakeholders. They come from both the public and the private sector and work in different sectors from transportation to accommodation. Coordination and communication are thus mandatory specially to avoid ambiguity or irrelevance of higher-level policies at the local level.[4] In Ghana, public sector tourism institutions are composed principally of the Ministry of Tourism and the Ghana Tourism Authority. Private sector institutions comprise different associations (Appendix n° 1).[5]
From the Ideas to the Reality
It was around mid-2000 that tourism became recognised as an important sector in Ghana. Between 2006 and 2011, the country instituted several legal provisions to encourage the development of the tourism industry in a sustainable manner (Appendix n° 2).[6] The tourism public policy of Ghana considers tourism as a general driver of growth and development and a means to create employment and reduce poverty. It is focused around four points: the historical forts and castles; the National Parks and Reserves; the beaches and cultural events. Thus, its intention is to target the international tourism market but only domestic tourism appears to grow (Appendix n°3).[7] However, even though Ghana has potential tourism resources, those latter are not well integrated into the tourism offering and lack management plans and a qualified workforce.[8] This could explain why the sector of tourism contributes little to the country’s gross domestic in comparison to other African countries (Appendix n° 4).[9] Ghana’s conception of tourism is very similar to that of Western countries, but the infrastructure and human resources required to implement it is lacking.
Appendix
N° 1: In Ghana, public sector tourism institutions are composed principally by the Ministry of Tourism created in 1993, the Ghana Tourism Authority, the advisory arm of the Ministry which was established by the Tourism Act 817 in 2011 to replace the Ghana Tourist Board, the Ghana Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) and the Hotel, Catering and Tourism Training Institute (HOTCATT). Private sector institutions comprise different associations, which are collectively represented by the Ghana Tourism Federation (GHATOF).[10]
N° 2: In 2006, the country established “The Ghana Tourism Development Policy” in order to grow a tourism development profitable to locals and to provide the best visitor experiences without damaging its environment. This policy was then followed by the “the Tourism Act 817” in 2011 to support the touristic industry and to guarantee the quality of services that it provides. In Ghana, the approach to tourism development thus can be referred to as responsible and sustainable tourism.[11] It also promises to pursue economic viability, ecological sensitivity and cultural appropriateness in the development of the industry.[12]
N° 3: The economic value of tourism in Ghana is difficult to determine because there is lack of reliable data (statistics and surveys) according to the World Bank. What is certain is that, in 2018, there are more travel for business and funerals, involving wealthy Ghanaians and expatriates, than international tourists for leisure. Even among the international tourists, la large number of them were in Ghana on school trips and media or church groups travels.[13]
N° 4: In addition, low-level accommodation, poor sanitation, mediocre access to some of the tourist sites, notoriously slow restauration and low-quality souvenir-shops, night-clubs and sport centres will discourage the “catchiest” travellers.[14] This can explain the poor performance of tourism resulting in a very low contribution to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) in comparison to other African countries. In 2012, the tourism percentage contribution to the GDP was as follows: 7% in Ghana, 43.4% in Namibia, 20.3 in Mauritius and 12.6 in Gambia. Moreover, 1 in 15 jobs in the world today is dependent on tourism industry. In Ghana, this number drops to 1 in 1000.[15]
Pauline Lalondrelle et Lara Maye
Literature :
AbdulaiKuyini M. (March 2014). “Tourism development policy versus practice in Ghana: the Case of Lake Bosomtwe Basin” in European Scientific Journal. Edition vol.10, No.7.
Available at : http://www.kropfpolisci.com/public.policy.anderson.pdf, (accessed: 3 June 2019).
Anderson, J. E. (2003). Public policymaking: An introduction. Boston: Houghton, Mifflin Company, pp. 1-34. Available at : http://www.kropfpolisci.com/public.policy.anderson.pdf, (accessed: 1 June 2019).
Dodds, R. and Butler, R. (2010), ‘Barriers to Implementing Sustainable Tourism Policy in Mass Tourism Destinations’ Tourismos: An International Multi-disciplinary Journal of Tourism 5 (1): pp. 35-53.
Hircczak M., Pecqueur B., Mollard A et alii. (November 2008). « Le modèle du panier de biens » in Économie rurale. N° 308. Available at : https://journals.openedition.org/economierurale/366#quotation, (accessed 3 June 2019).
Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture of Ghana. (November 2012). National Tourism Development Plan (2013 – 2027). Available at : http://www.ghana.travel/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Ghana-Tourism-Development-Plan.pdf, (accessed: 1 June 2019).
Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture. (June 2018). Tourism Investment Opportunities in Ghana. Available at : http://www.ghana.travel/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Investment-Opportunity.pdf, (accessed 3 June 2019).
Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture. (May 2018). Tourism Sector Development Project, Preparation of Environmental and social Framework. Final Report. Available at : http://www.ghana.travel/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Tourism-Sector-Development-Project-Final-Report-7.pdf, (accessed: 1 June 2019).
OECD. (2012), “Evaluating Tourism Policies and Programmes”, in OECD Tourism Trends and Policies 2012, OECD Publishing, Paris. Available at : https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/docserver/tour-2012-4-en.pdf?expires=1559850180&id=id&accname=guest&checksum=BB44DF5A62385A8967010C47CA208CBC, (accessed: 1 June 2019).
Picture :
Fort in Cape Coast, Ghana, October 14, 2006. Photo © Jurgen.
Pauline Lalondrelle et Lara Maye
Research questions
The challenges identified through our readings and this preliminary analysis show that for a territorial system of production to be efficient it is essential that the actors are in a dynamic of collaboration. And this at different levels whether local, regional or national. It enhances the important role of public policies, but above all their coherence and their implementation on the field. Oheneba (2007-2009) and Cobbinah & Darkwah (2016) in their studies assert that implementation is the key. The monitoring and support of the public authorities regarding the policies do not seem to be sufficient. And this, despite a well thought out and coherent public tourism policy, focused on an endogenous development approach. But its implementation seems less so. Are the objectives too important? Those presented in the latest project (ESMF) are indeed and raise many questions about the realistic aspect of its implementation.
The territorial approach of the production system should therefore first be analysed in its reality in the field to answer the question: Who are the actors and what is the nature of their technological, territorial and socio-institutional paradigms?
A tourism development policy disencumbered of the needs and the concerns of the inhabitants and its very local actors would only accentuate the dependency of the country on foreign investment and further increase national debt according to Cobbinah. B., Darkwah R.M. (2016). Should the country focus on the development of its very specific assets and resources in order to gain autonomy and become innovative (Maillat, 1998) to gain in competitivity and attractivity? Is there already a certain level of regional and local decentralization and empowerment of local actors? What is the support of the public authorities in this direction?
Pauline Lalondrelle et Lara Maye
References:
Cobbinah . B., Darkwah R. M. (2016). “Reflections on tourism policies in Ghana” in International Jouranl of Tourism Sciences, 16:4, pp. 170-190.
Colletis G., Pecqueur B. (1994). Les facteurs de la concurence spatiale 3, Université Pierre Mendes France – Grenoble II.
Hirczak M., Pecqueur B., Mollard A. (2004). “Le panier de biens et de services de qualité: vers un modèle de développement territorial durable” in Montagnes Méditerranéennes, n°20.
Jeannerat H. (2013). “Staging experience, valuing authenticity: Towards a market perspective on territorial development” in European Urban and Regional Studies, 20, issue 4, pp. 370-384.
Maillat, D. (1998). “From the industrial district to the innovative milieu: Contribution to an analysis of territorialised productive organisations” in Recherches Économiques De Louvain, 64(1), pp. 111-129.
Oheneba Akyeampong (2006-2009) “Tourism Development in Ghana (1957-2007)” in Legon Journal of Sociology, Vol. 3, No. 2.
Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture. (May 2018). Tourism Sector Development Project, Preparation of Environmental and social Framework. Final Report. Available at : http://www.ghana.travel/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Tourism-Sector-Development-Project-Final-Report-7.pdf, (accessed: 1 June 2019).
Notes :
[1] Hircczak M., Pecqueur B., Mollard A et alii. (November 2008). « Le modèle du panier de biens » in Économie rurale. N° 308.
[2] OECD (2012), “Evaluating Tourism Policies and Programmes”, in OECD Tourism Trends and Policies 2012, OECD Publishing, Paris.
[3] Anderson, J. E. (2003). Public policymaking: An introduction. Boston: Houghton, Mifflin Company, pp. 1-34.
[4] Dodds, R. and Butler, R. (2010), ‘Barriers to Implementing Sustainable Tourism Policy in Mass Tourism Destinations’ Tourismos: An International Multi-disciplinary Journal of Tourism 5 (1): pp. 35-53.
[5] Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture of Ghana. (November 2012). National Tourism Development Plan (2013 – 2027).
[6] Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture. (May 2018). Tourism Sector Development Project, Preparation of Environmental and social Framework. Final Report.
[7] Idem.
[8] Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture of Ghana. (November 2012). Ibid.
[9] AbdulaiKuyini M. (March 2014). “Tourism development policy versus practice in Ghana: the Case of Lake Bosomtwe Basin” in European Scientific Journal. Edition vol.10, No.7.
[10] Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture of Ghana. (November 2012). National Tourism Development Plan (2013 – 2027).
[11] Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture. (May 2018). Tourism Sector Development Project, Preparation of Environmental and social Framework. Final Report.
[12] AbdulaiKuyini M. (March 2014). “Tourism development policy versus practice in Ghana: The Case of Lake Bosomtwe Basin” in European Scientific Journal. Edition vol.10, No.7.
[13] Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture. (May 2018). Ibid.
[14] Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture. (June 2018). Tourism Investment Opportunities in Ghana.
[15] AbdulaiKuyini M. (March 2014). “Tourism development policy versus practice in Ghana: the Case of Lake Bosomtwe Basin” in European Scientific Journal. Edition vol.10, No.7.