It gets more ridiculous everyday when people talk about tourism. Therefore, I've decided to take some time to write on the subject to clear some misconceptions and also endeavour to outline the importance of tourism to the world specifically Ghana by explicitly or implicitly defining what tourism really is.
As a student reading Tourism Management at the University, I’m particularly interested in people's opinion about my field of study, more often than not people with no theoretical knowledge on tourism. Most of the time when I ask them what they think about tourism, they primarily tell me tourism is all about people visiting a particular place for sightseeing, taking rides, taking a vacation, touring, having a good time or simply enjoying the environment.
Well, tourism involves all that was mentioned however it goes beyond just enjoyment or excitement. It's an entire world industry of travel, hotels, transportation, and all other components that serve the needs and wants of travellers. When we consider the subject further, we may include in our definition of tourism, people who are participating in a convention, a business conference, or some other kind of business or professional activity, as well as those who are taking a study tour or doing some kind of scientific research or study.
The World Tourism Organization--the agency responsible for the promotion of a responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism defines tourism as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes". It’s imperative to note that the length of stay should also not be less than a day and any activity which one participate in of which the person will be remunerated is not regarded as tourism. Tourism is a complex phenomenon and this multidimensional aspect of it makes it extremely difficult to describe succinctly.
Tourism brings both economic and non-economic benefits to the host country. In Ghana, tourism is a significant contributor to economic growth and development. It is a major source of foreign exchange, employment and government revenues. In 2014, Ghana's tourism sector raked-in $2.1 billion from roughly 950,000 international tourists, providing employment for at least 400,000 people.
Ghana's tourism sector is also projected to annually rake-in $8.3 billion US dollars per year by the year 2027 on the back of an estimated 4.3 million international tourist arrivals. Like any other industry, tourism can create problems especially if its overdeveloped but I’m not going to talk about that in this article.
I'm now going to shift my attention to some of the myths and misconceptions associated with tourism and hopefully debunk them.
First, people tell me tourism is just a waste of money. This is possibly one of the greatest misconceptions about tourism. There is a wide range of tourism activities one can participate even with a small amount of money. Recreational activities such swimming, hiking, cycling are less expensive. One can also visit a museum, festival or a cultural event which are quite inexpensive.
Individually, such activities are more beneficial to the body and mind. These activities relieve you from depression, improves your social skills, makes you more creative, lowers your risks of heart disease etc. I mean the non-economic benefits of travelling or tourism is enormous.
Secondly, people also tell me tourism is all play, you don't learn anything and a waste of time. I get worried anytime i hear statements like this, as a matter of fact, I get greatly surprised whenever people express such sentiments about tourism. The highest purpose of tourism is to become better acquainted with people in other places and countries, because this furthers the understanding and appreciation that builds a better world for all. Tourism raises our levels of experience, recognition, and achievements in many areas of learning, research, and artistic activity. For instance, experiencing other people's culture does not only help you learn about their ways of life and thought but also promote cultural relations and international cooperation.
Obviously, there are so many misconceptions people have about tourism which cannot be cover in this article- those ideas are just false. I hope you've been able to learn something about tourism and have perhaps developed an interest for it.
On this note, I would like to end this article with a quote from Taleb Rifai, Secretary-General of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). He said "Tourism is more than just about reaching a destination – tourism has a global reach. Every time we travel, we become part of a global movement that has the power to drive positive change for our planet and all people."
Remember, Tourism is not just for an entertainment or an escape from your hectic lifestyle but it also has a major impact on our body & minds.
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