Upper East tourism showing positive growth despite challenges – GTA Director
GTA Regional Director says cultural heritage, local industries, and strategic partnerships are driving tourism growth and helping change perceptions about the Upper East Region.
The Upper East Regional Director of the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), Joseph Appiagyei, says the tourism sector in the region is recording steady growth despite existing challenges, attributing the progress to increased community participation, vibrant cultural festivals and strategic partnerships aimed at attracting more visitors and investment.
According to him, the Authority has intensified efforts to market the region by promoting its rich cultural heritage, arts and crafts, festivals and indigenous industries while working to dispel the long-held perception that the Upper East Region is unsafe for tourists.
Speaking on the Big Mike Breakfast Show on Tuesday, July 21, Appiagyei said the Ghana Tourism Authority has collaborated with traditional authorities, local assemblies, communities and other stakeholders to showcase the region’s tourism potential, adding that the strategy is beginning to yield positive results.
“Tourism is showing positive indicators as far as this region is concerned,” he said.
Appiagyei explained that tourism is fundamentally driven by effective marketing, stressing that attractions can only gain national and international recognition when they are consistently promoted.
“If you don’t advertise what you have, who will hear about it?” he asked.
He noted that the Upper East Region is endowed with numerous untapped tourism assets, including the famous Sirigu wall paintings, traditional crafts, shea butter processing, smock weaving and other indigenous industries that have the potential to create jobs, preserve cultural heritage and stimulate local economic growth.
The Regional Director further emphasised that tourism provides sustainable economic opportunities because, unlike finite natural resources, tourism assets can continue generating revenue when properly developed, managed and preserved.
“We are gradually overcoming the misconception that the Upper East is not safe,” he stated.
Appiagyei clarified that although the Ghana Tourism Authority is mandated under Legislative Instrument (LI) 2393 to regulate tourism facilities, the development and maintenance of tourist sites require strong collaboration among district assemblies, traditional authorities, local communities and development partners due to limited government resources.
He therefore called on residents to take pride in their cultural heritage, protect tourism assets and patronise locally made products, saying such efforts would boost employment, strengthen local economies and improve livelihoods.
“Let us cherish what God has endowed us with because that will help create employment for our youth and ourselves,” he advised.
Mike 105.3FM I Navrongo | Elizabeth Apusaama
