Dubai's mult-billion dollar tourism industry is expected to get another boost starting this year as many West Africans explore the emirate's attractions, due to the introduction of Emirates' four-weekly direct flights to Lagos and Accra.
The Ghana Tourist Board (GTB), too, is stepping up its efforts to increase the traffic flow from the Middle East, which in 2002, accounted for only 3,661 tourists among a total intake of less than 500,000 visitors.
Though Ghana's tourism has high potential for growth, the government has not pursued the potential to any great extent. Its tourism infrastructure is yet to mature and still needs further development. Foreign investment in the sector could help the country to raise its tourism profile.
Also, bringing its natural, eco-tourism, heritage and other tourism sites under a good tourism package is something the country would surely need to work on. In this regard, Dubai could offer its marketing experties to Ghana.
The organisation is expected to hold roadshows in the UAE and might participate at the Arabian Travel Market to be held in May, said Martin Mireku, GTB's executive director.
Hundreds of West African traders, especially businessmen from Nigeria, flock Dubai's down town markets to source commodities. Dubai is fast outshining other European destinations in attracting commodities. This, in the future will attract many leisure tourists.
In 2002, Dubai's tourism industry witnessed a 31.15 per cent growth, at the backdrop of the negative incidents of September 11. Over 4.75 million guests stayed Dubai's 280 hotels and 135 serviced apartments, according to the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM).
Dubai's tourism industry owes a great deal to its national carrier, Emirates, which carried over eight million passengers in and out of Dubai alone in 2002-03 fiscal year, according to the carrier.
In 2002, over 16 million passengers passed through Dubai Intertnational Airport, over 50 per cent of which have been carried by Emirates alone.
Ghaith Al Ghaith, Emirates executive vice president for Commercial Operations Worldwide, who led Emirates' official delegation on its inaugural flight to West Africa, said, Emirates' direct flight is going to benefit both the region's business and leisure tourism industry.
"Dubai is an easily accessible market. Through our direct flights, both traders, shoppers and tourists can explore the emirate and travel beyond due to our strong and convenient connections to major international destinations," he said.
"For long, West African tourists have been travelling to Europe and North Africa, their traditional markets. However, we have, through the introduction of the new services, have opened up a new window for them to explore.
"With this service, not only Dubai will benefit. It's a two-way traffic and many travellers from other markets as well as the Gulf, will use Emirates to explore the natural beauty of West Africa." The Ghanian government has recently undertaken a number of projects to improve tourism facilities, Mireku said.
"We have 1,200 hotels with 16,180 rooms and over 21,000 beds, catering to less than 500,000 tourists annually. These hotels include one five-star, a few four-star ones. However, most of them belong to one- or two-stars," he said.
"According to the government's plan, Ghana is to increase its tourism intake to over one million visitors by 2007 and we are currently working to realise these plans. Tourism contributes to about six per cent of Ghana's GDP.
"By 2007, we expect to earn over $1.5 billion in foreign currency from the tourism sector alone. Tourism is the third largest economic sector in Ghana. By 2007, the sector will employ over 300,000 Ghanians.
"Ghana is blessed with a large coastal landscape. We are now trying to promote the beaches and offer them for foreign investors who could set up hotels and resorts and develop adjacent beaches to attract leisure visitors.
"According to the government's plan, we have already identified about 15 plots of beachfront land for development in Accra. Foreign investors, if they plan wisely, could benefit from the expected boost in tourism."
Mireku said, his government plans to promote eco-tourism, while gradually inviting leisure tourists. "Currently, most hotels are filled up with business travellers, mostly coming from the West African region, Europe and North America.
"We have many historical and heritage sites to offer. Currently we are working to improve the eco-tourism sites and increase their numbers. We are also working on to improve the surroundings of the old castles and forts to enhance the heritage tourism facilities."
Gulf News
