Ghana | Culture and Lifestyle Key to Tourism Growth for the Country

Ghana, a country situated in West Africa, adjacent to the Gulf of Guinea and the Atlantic Ocean to the south, a land boasts a rich cultural heritage, several attractions such as a diverse wildlife, national parks, pristine beaches, emblematic sites and vibrant cities bets on culture and lifestyle as key to tourism growth for the country.

Ghana's cultural tourism landscape offers a vibrant blend of historical sites, traditional festivals, and a thriving arts scene highlighted by the rhythm of highlife and hiplife music. 

The country's rich heritage includes the legacy of the iconic Ashanti Empire, a powerful West African kingdom that existed in what is now Ghana from approximately 1670 to 1901 and traditional crafts like Adinkra cloth, Kente cloth and wood carving, offering visitors many opportunities to live authentic cultural experiences.

Ghana's Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, has called for a coordinated strategy to elevarte the country's tourism offering, citing Ghana's culture, cuisine aned lifestyle as core attractions.

Speaking during a courtesy visit from the TOUGHA, the Tour Operators Union of Ghana, the Minister highlighted the need to brand Ghana's cultural identity more effectively on the global stage offering authentic experiences.

A key driver for tourism promotion  is the "Black Star Experience", the government's flagship culture, arts, and tourism brand to make the country a preferred tourism destination.

Designed to drive cultural rebranding, economic transformation and creative empowerment through a national calendar of festivals, exhibitions, perfoermances, training and infrastructure development, Black Star Experience in an engine to showcase the Ghanian cultural identity and providing immersive lifestyle packages for international travellers.

 The Minister cautioned against disjointed efforts within the sector, warning the lack of coordination could fuel informal tourism activities outside of regulatory oversight.

 During the meeting the President of Tour Operators Union of Ghana, Yvonne Donker raised concerns about unlicensed operators marketing services on social media without formal training or compliance, calling for strengthened regulation and industry cohesion.

In addition TOUGHA outlined plans to expand tourism beyond traditional centre like the capital of the country Accra and Cape Coast through national unification efforts, regional promotion, and a new skills training programme set to launch next month.

Both sides agreed the importance of reciprocal marketing, highlighting outbound travel figures such as the 36.000 Ghanian who visited South Africa in 2024 to encourage more marketing in African source markets and position Ghana as a competitive regional destination.

Link 
https://atta.travel/resource/ghana-s-culture-and-lifestyle-key-to-tourism-growth-says-minister.html