Mr Isaac Koumessina, Executive Director of the Ghana–New Zealand Chamber of Commerce, urged Ghana to adopt a year‑long tourism programme similar to New Zealand’s, saying coordinated efforts could attract more visitors and stimulate economic activity.
Speaking on the sidelines of the 2026 Inter Tourism Expo in Cape Coast, Mr Koumessina noted that tourism events in Ghana are often organised by different groups at different times, with little coordination among the Ministry of Tourism, the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) and other agencies.
“New Zealand always has a year‑long tourism event going on. Every day there is something happening in the industry,” he said. “Ghana is limited. It’s either a group is organising something today, another group the next day, so there is no inter‑agency related event such as tourism going on in Ghana.”
He proposed a unified calendar of tourism events that would give visitors more reasons to explore Ghana regardless of when they arrive. Such coordination, he said, would ensure that investors or tourists always find activities and attractions to showcase the country’s potential.
Mr Koumessina also highlighted the need to improve engagement with visitors after their trips, citing opportunities to encourage repeat visits through targeted promotions and follow‑up communication. He questioned whether Ghana had adequate data on visitors and effective systems for maintaining contact with them to promote future tourism activities.
Reflecting on the Year of Return initiative, he urged the Youth Employment Agency to collaborate with tourism authorities to train young people as tour guides and equip them with skills to promote Ghana’s attractions through digital platforms.
“Sustained tourism activities and stronger institutional collaboration could help expand business opportunities and create jobs across different sectors of the economy,” he added.
Ghana’s tourism authorities will likely review the proposal as the sector seeks to diversify its offerings and increase visitor numbers throughout the year.
