Communiqué’ from Tourism Stakeholders Mixer delivered to minister
Strengthening public-private partnerships to drive investment and innovation which will ensure long-term success in the tourism sector has been cited as a priority factor for the industry to focus on.
This, among other key findings, is contained in a ‘Communiqué’ drawn from deliberations at the Tourism Stakeholders Mixer recently held by industry practitioners, and presented to the Minister of Tourism, Culture & Creative Arts, Hon. Abla Dzifa Gomashie, at her office in Accra last week.
Receiving the document, Gomashie made a commitment to study the contents and take action on any necessary cues, noting that a “lack of collaboration” is, indeed, a fundamental challenge facing the industry.
Honing in on “collaborative strategies as the basis for responsible tourism and cultural preservation”, the minister expressed her desire to work to bring everyone within the tourism and creative industries, which are the most encompassing sectors in government, to work together with one goal in mind – “marketing Ghana as a Cultural Destination”. An objective which is the foundation of the Black Star Experience.
Held under the theme ‘Building the Tourism We Want Together’, organisers of the event, a collaboration of practitioners in the industry comprising the the African Tourism Research Network, Hausa Tours, Bentsifi Tourism, Exotic Adventures, Jannice Digital & Co. and Ellevan Consult, the Tourism Stakeholder’s Mixer, which came off at the Conclave Event Center in Osu last February 12, observed that the event served as a vital platform that fostered exchange of ideas and identified key priorities for the growth and sustainability of the tourism industry.
PaJohn Dadson of Bentsifi Tourism, who led the team, shared: “The discussions and commitments made during the mixer seeks to serve as a foundation for future initiatives and policy actions aimed at enhancing the tourism and hospitality industry” .
Following the very successful conference, it emerged that more than ever, it is essential for all stakeholders to work together to implement the insights and recommendations shared during the event, highlights of which include “continued engagement, innovation and sustainable practices as key actions in ensuring long-term success.”
Against this background, the communiqué captures the following as actions to focus on;
- Identifying challenges and opportunities in infrastructure, marketing, sustainability and workforce development.
- Encouraging collaborative strategies for responsible tourism and cultural preservation.
- Establishing a roadmap for policy improvements, investment incentives and marketing initiatives to enhance destination appeal.
Bringing together government officials, private sector representatives,
community leaders and industry professionals, the meeting reinforced the collective responsibility of all stakeholders in the tourism industry in shaping a vibrant and competitive tourism sector.
From start-ups to tourism business leaders like Mrs Stella W. Appenteng of Apstar Tours, Gideon Asare of Adansi Travels, Francis Doku, Wilma Bruce of IbyService and @Yvonne Ohui MacCarthy, President of the Institute of Customer Service Professionals, and academia in the person of Professor Kwaku Boakye of Cape Coast Technical University.
Furthermore, the maiden edition of the mixer successfully brought together a wide range of key industry players, including Mr. Ekow Sampson, Deputy CEO – Technical, Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA); Prof. Kobby Mensah, CEO – Ghana Tourism Development Company (GTDC); Mr. Adu Gyamfi, President of Ghana Tourism Federation (GHATOF); and Dr. Nyameke, President of the Ghana Hotels Association, among many others!
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