Developing the tourism potentials in Ashanti Region: the contribution of public - private sector partnership
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Date
2001-12-13
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Abstract
Over the past two decades, tourism has gained increasing recognition as a major socio-economic activity with the potential to attract investment, generate employment and income and enhance export diversification in the country. This sudden growth in the tourism industry was greatly influenced by the successful implementation of the Economic Recovery Programme in 1983 and subsequent enactment of the Ghana Investment Code (PNDC Law 116) in 1985. The intervention induced a reduction of state participation in active economic production and the promotion of private investment in all sectors of the economy.
Ashanti Region which is one of the important tourism destinations in the country has most of its immense tourism potential left untapped or less developed. The tourism industry in the Region could also be developed to enhance income and employment generation capacity and improve the overall socio-economic growth of the region. The realisation of this noble objective requires the active participation of both the public and private sectors.
The study therefore sought to review the contribution made by both the public and private sectors in the development of tourism potentials in the Ashanti Region and to identify the possible ways of bringing their efforts together to ensure sustainable tourism development. Data collected from some public officials and private personnel brought to light some problems affecting the tourism development in the region. These problems include inadequate tourism facilities and services, inefficient utility services, land acquisition and high commodity prices. The study also identified weaknesses in the partnership relations between public and private institutions involved in the tourism development.
Based upon the findings of the study recommendations were made for national policy formulation, tourism development in the region and public-private sector partnership. Issues addressed in the proposals include tourism funding, research information, manpower training and community participation as well as partnership relations. It is hoped that the adoption of the recommendations found in this report can help stimulate the development of tourism potentials in the Ashanti Region.
Description
A thesis submitted to the Board of Postgraduate Studies,
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in partial
fulfilment of the requirements for the award of Master of Science in Development Policy and Planning, 2001