European heritage and cultural diversity: the bricks and mortar of Ghana's tourism industry

Abstract

European heritage, and traditional institutions and festivities constitute the bricks and mortar of Ghana's tourism industry. Diaspora-related events such as the biennial Panafest (Pan African arts festival), Emancipation Day and the Joseph Project, and the 50th Independence Anniversary in 2007 have underscored the importance and indispensability of European heritage and cultural diversity in Ghana's tourism industry. European heritage, and traditional institutions and festivities also constitute cultural capital attracting domestic and international tourists. Interestingly, justifiably and timely, Ghana was the host country of the international World Tourism Day event in 2009, the first country to do so in sub-Saharan Africa. ‘Tourism, Celebrating Diversity’ was the theme for the event which was jointly organised by the United Nations World Tourism Organisation, Ghana Tourist Board, and the Ministry of Tourism. The event also underscored European heritage and cultural diversity in the country's tourism industry. Irrefutably, there is a need for more diversification of tourist facilities and products, and increase in domestic tourism.

Keywords:

• colonial heritage
• culture
• tourism
• celebrative events
• Ghana
• sub-Saharan Africa