Crucial conversations were sparked and partnerships forged when the tourism fraternity convened at a networking gala on Wednesday afternoon at the Conclave Events Centre in Osu, where the ‘Tourism Stakeholders Mixer’ took place.
Industry stakeholders, in an effort to chart new paths for Ghana’s tourism, turned out overwhelmingly at the maiden event, which sought to serve as a strategic platform for practitioners of tourism and hospitality to meet and mingle in a casual setting to foster innovation, partnerships and policy advocacy to drive Ghana’s tourism agenda forward. It was a most encouraging day for Ghana’s tourism.
A distinguished professor of Tourism, Prof. Kwaku Boakye, Vice-Chancellor of Cape Coast Technical University, led proceedings with a deep dive on the need for a forward-thinking approach in repositioning Ghana’s tourism industry with the A-ttractions, B-ussinesses,
C-ollaboratio, D-irection (policy), E-xposure (access) to destination management framework.
Sending her warm regards, a speech read on behalf of the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Dzifa Gomashie, spelled out government’s bold Black Star Experience tourism agenda, which vision seeks to position Ghana as the epicentre of Pan-African heritage, cultural renaissance and historical reconnection for the African diaspora. “This vision builds upon the success of initiatives like the Year of Return and Beyond the Return, which have not only welcomed thousands of visitors but have also cemented Ghana’s place as the Gateway to Africa,” the minister stated.
From start-ups to tourism business leaders like Mrs. Stella Appenteng of Apstar Tours, Gideon Asare of Adansi Travels, Wilma Bruce of IBS and Yvonne Ohui MacCarthy – President of the Institute of Customer Service Professionals, the maiden edition of the Mixer successfully brought together a wide range of key industry players, including notably 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
The mix of experienced practitioners and curious young professionals presented great opportunity to discuss budding critical topics during breakout working sessions, such as consumer insights and key trends in contemporary destination management, and how to leverage technology & AI to Improve services.
Triggered after a whirlwind dialogue discussing the challenges facing the sector on the tourism WhatsApp platform of Ghana Tourism Forum, members took on the mantle to organise this Mixer as a way of knowledge sharing and networking. In partnership with the African Tourism Research Network (ATRN), action was kicked in to plan this maiden event under the theme ‘Building the Tourism and Hospitality Industry We Want Together’.
“Tourism is not just about leisure and recreation; it is a powerful tool for economic transformation and empowerment,” Prof. Boakye highlighted, adding, “if we are to make Ghana a competitive tourism destination, we must embrace innovation, invest in human capital and strengthen our marketing efforts.”
“We cannot build the tourism industry we desire in isolation. It requires a concerted effort from all stakeholders—government, private sector, academia and local communities—to create a robust and thriving tourism ecosystem,” stressed Prof. Boakye.
Francis Doku, Chief Operations Officer – Digital Plugin Limited & West Africa Regional Representative, African Tourism Partners, led a break-out session to explore actionable strategies to position Ghana as a global cultural hotspot, leveraging the country’s unique heritage. “Ghana isn’t just a destination; it’s a living museum of African heritage.”
In her welcome remarks, CEO of Charterhouse Productions, Mrs. Theresa Ayoade, stated that to truly build the sustainable tourism and hospitality industry we envision, we must foster stronger collaborations, embrace innovation and develop strategic policies that drive long-term impact.
Expected to become a regular event serving as a strategic platform for fostering dialogue in the industry, the Tourism Stakeholders Mixer was hosted in collaboration with Hausa Tours, Benstifi, VoyagesAfriq, Exotic Ecotours, Charterhouse and Ellaven Consult, with massive support from the Conclave Meetings & Events Centre, Osu.
Sponsors included FirstBank, NSIA Insurance, Fairafric Ghana, Linda D’or Enterprise and Adansi Travels. The rest are People’s Pension Trust, Number One Oxford Street Hotels & Suites, Klenami Cultural Foundation and Unfading Memories.
