An Assessment of Tourism in International Relations: A Particular Focus on the Ghana-African Diaspora Relations

Abstract

International tourism has been a key component of relations in the international system, although this has not been adequately discussed by IR scholars. Existing discussions have highlighted different issues such as the different types of tourism, the history of international tourism, the political and socioeconomic conditions that influence international tourism, the link between tourism, globalization, and development, the positive and negative effects of tourism on states, the nature of tourism in Africa as compared to other parts of the world, and the programs that tend to drive international tourism, among other things. This dissertation builds on the idea of Pan Africanism to investigate the development of international tourism and how the “Year of Return” initiative has impacted tourism and other dimensions of the Ghanaian state including the relations between Ghanaians and Africans in the diaspora. The study principally argues that tourism has significantly evolved in international affairs over time and successive Ghanaian governments have improved some aspects of tourism through organizing programs and initiatives that have promoted and strengthened the bond between Ghanaians and Africans in the diaspora.The analysis triangulates insights from both primary and secondary sources. Fieldwork included semi structured interviews involving sixteen participants. The study found that the Year of Return celebration has had significant impact on Ghana’s tourism and international relations as a whole as it impacted economic growth, improved bilateral and multilateral relations and promoted development across the country. Based on the key findings, the study recommends that the Ghanaian and other African states should be more committed to improving tourist sites such as national parks, slave castles, forts, and other historical sites to increase their patronage and relations with Africans in the diaspora. African governments also need to invest more in the requisite infrastructure in the hospitality industry and road networks needed to attract tourists.