Sustainable Tourism Development in Ghana; A Case Study of Accra Metropolitan Assembly

Abstract

The Sustainable tourism development concept has attracted many scientific reviews in the tourism industry and now appears to be the most researched topic to help in the development of the tourism sector since the late 1980s. This study, sustainable tourism development in Ghana; a case study of Accra metropolitan assembly has as its specific objectives to assess the economic viability of tourism in the Accra Metropolitan area, to examine the degree of socio-cultural and environmental effects of tourism development in Accra and to outline measures that can be adopted to enhance opportunities and benefits of tourism to local communities. The population of the study was the coastal areas of the metropolis. A structured questionnaire was employed to collect data from one hundred and three (105) respondents. On the economic effects the study found that tourism provides jobs in the community, helps in the provision of infrastructural and social amenities and the generation of tax revenues for both the local assembly and the central government. Again, on the socio-cultural effects of tourism within the study community, the study revealed that, tourism encourages intertribal marriages however, it has also contributed to social problems such as crimes, drug abuse, and prostitution, and the loss of natural landscape and agricultural lands and pollution of the environment. Increasing investment and offering of support to industries in the sector will enhance the growth of the sector. The study recommends that,urgent educational campaigns should be undertaken to educate the inhabitants and the tourists about the need to sustain tourism as it is an avenue for jobs and revenue generation in the community.