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Tourism Diversification Can Transform Ghana’s Economy – GTDC CEO Prof. Kobby Mensah

The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Tourism Development Company (GTDC), Professor Kobby Mensah, has emphasized the importance of diversifying Ghana’s tourism offerings, stating that such efforts can significantly transform the country’s economy.

In an interview with GhanaWeb, Prof. Mensah said that Ghana needs to move beyond its traditional tourism image and embrace a broader range of experiences for both domestic and international visitors.

“We need to diversify our tourism experiences,” he noted. “As I’ve mentioned before, the ‘Black Star Experience’ is built around one key idea, quality tourism throughout all 365 days of the year. That means we must offer visitors more than just seasonal or cultural attractions.”

He explained that while Ghana is often associated with cultural tourism, there is untapped potential in other areas, such as eco-tourism and wildlife experiences.

“A lot of people, when they think of Ghana, focus only on culture. But what about Mole National Park? Many believe Ghana isn’t a safari destination, yet we have incredible safari potential. There are numerous touristic locations that require investment,” he said.

To address this, the GTDC has launched the Ghana Tourism Investment Platform, accessible via www.investintourism.org. The platform lists tourism investment opportunities across the country and invites individuals and organizations to contribute.

“If you’re in a community with a river, heritage site, or any unique attraction that deserves investment, just go to the website, take photos, upload them, and notify us. We’ll follow up, assess the location, and profile it for potential investors,” Prof. Mensah explained. “It’s not just about hotels and amusement parks; we’re also looking at eco-parks, heritage sites, and unique cultural attractions.”

He also highlighted a new initiative called the Ghana Fam Tour, developed in partnership with a private organization. This tour promotes agro-tourism, giving visitors the opportunity to experience life on local farms.

“It’s an amazing product that allows people to visit farms, learn about what we grow, what we eat, and how we cook it. Many visitors come from places where they’ve never seen or experienced these things firsthand,” he said.

Prof. Mensah stressed that this kind of product diversification is key to building a resilient and sustainable tourism industry.

“This is what we mean by tourism diversity, creating offerings that go beyond December and festive periods. That’s exactly what the President has been advocating. When we do this, we move closer to sustainability and to increasing tourist arrivals throughout the year.”

Writer: Frederick Nortey 

Email: nueteiafrohead@gmail.com

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