Welcome
The Obuarn Committee, 1972. Thirteen years after independence, the first attempt to develop tourism was initiated. This lead to the formation of the Obuarn committee in 1972. The first ever major step in the formal development of tourism evaluates the country’s tourism resources. Their objective was to catalogue and classify the potential tourism resources for a five (5) year development plan. This was to cover the period 1972 – 1976.
The government to this effect issued White Paper 0n tourism. Investment opportunities were identified for foreign participation.
Foreign agencies conducted studies on Ghana’s tourist industry in 1972 and 1978. Financial constraints and technical limitations prompted the involvement of these foreign personnel.
Various studies were also conducted by domestically to supplement those other studies. These studies captured primarily on tourism impact assessment .The studies included studies on tourism exchange earnings, tourism multiplier effect and socio-cultural impacts.
Based on the findings from these studies, a unanimous decision was reached that Ghana had a viable tourist industry. However there was the need for a long term tourism development plan to guard the course of the success. A consensus was reached that the tourism industry will be dominated by the foreign market.
The first 15-year development plan (1975-1990).
Considering the tourism potentials of the nation, the issue for a long term tourism development plan was raised. This was to last for the period of 1975 to 1990(a 15-year development plan).The plan was to be funded and technically assisted by the Danish Government. Average annual growth of tourism was projected to 12.5%.With this rate, international tourist arrivals were to increase from 64000 in 1975 to35700 per annum by the end of the plan in1980.Average length of stay was to increase from 4 to 9.4 days and the number of hotels with minimum international standards were to increase from 900 in 1975 to over 13000 in 1990.The locals were also to benefit a lot from this plan, 36000 new direct and indirect jobs were to be created. Foreign exchange earnings were to be at a target of $58 million.
Due to a decade long political instability in Ghana, this plan could not be implemented.