Accra: Mrs. Marilyn Maame Efua Houadjeto, the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), has called on West African governments to pursue harmonized visa regimes and enhanced cross-border connectivity to strengthen the region's travel and tourism sector. She emphasized the necessity for travelers to move effortlessly between major cities such as Accra, Lagos, Banjul, Abidjan, Abuja, and Lom©.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mrs. Houadjeto made this appeal during the eighth Accra Weizo, a West African Travel Expo organized by Akwaaba African Travel Market in collaboration with the GTA. The event focused on the theme, 'Reimagining the ECOWAS Free Movement Protocol.' She highlighted that the protocol's original purpose was to bolster economic integration and facilitate trade and people-to-people exchange, urging for its more efficient implementation for travelers.
Mrs. Houadjeto further outlined Ghana's strategic position as a cultural crossroads and a hub for tourism, emphasizing the country's commitment to building a tourism industry that supports livelihoods and elevates communities. She noted ongoing investments in biodiversity protection, heritage site preservation, and community-based tourism, alongside expanding green infrastructure to offer environmentally conscious experiences.
Ambassador Ikechi Uko of the Akwaaba African Travel Market highlighted the expo's aim to boost travel and tourism growth in West Africa by simplifying airport and border procedures and standardizing facilities. He pointed out the region's rich cultural and tourist attractions but noted its low tourist reception despite generating the highest number of outbound travelers in Africa.
Ambassador Uko stressed the importance of encouraging intra-regional travel and creating a seamless travel environment to harness the market's potential. He urged stakeholders to develop strategies for unlocking regional tourism potential while fostering cross-border collaboration. The travel expo features various events, including conferences, B2B meetings, exhibitions, and the Balafon Award of Excellence, recognizing industry pioneers in the ECOWAS region.
