She stressed the importance of strategic planning to ensure industry standards are maintained.
“When there is a void, the youth will find a way to fill it, often outside regulatory frameworks,” she stated when the newly sworn-in executives of the Tour Operators Union of Ghana (TOUGHA) called on her in Accra.
The Minister urged stakeholders to remain relevant and work collectively to strengthen the tourism industry.
Her call comes amid efforts to boost Ghana’s tourism appeal while maintaining quality and regulatory oversight.
Madam Gomashie said government was making strategic and deliberate efforts to develop Ghana’s tourism sector, stressing the need to leverage the country’s cultural identity as a powerful driver of tourism growth.
“The Black Star Experience’ should be an immersive cultural package that invites tourists into the Ghanaian way of life.
“But we must brand it intentionally,” she said.
Mrs. Yvonne Donkor, President of TOUGHA, said the visit was to congratulate the Minister on her appointment, introduce the new leadership, and present key concerns affecting the tour operating industry.
She cited the growing number of unlicensed operators promoting services on social media without professional training or oversight as a major challenge.
Mrs. Donkor outlined the Union’s plans to unify tour operators nationwide, promote regional destinations, and expand domestic tourism beyond Accra and Cape Coast.
“Our aim is to build an authentic and inclusive tourism culture across every region and commit to promoting domestic tourism and encouraging intra-African travel,” she stated.
She called for reciprocal tourism promotion across the continent.
“While over 36,000 Ghanaians visited South Africa in 2024, it is time to also promote Ghana more aggressively in South Africa and beyond,” she said.
Mrs. Donkor announced that TOUGHA would launch a training programme in July focused on tour packaging, pricing, and service delivery to raise service standards,
The Union, she said, was committed to stronger collaboration, effective regulation, and targeted marketing to position Ghana as a top African tourist destination.
GNA
