Making domestic tourism romantic – Graphic Online

Half the time, when you talk about domestic tourism, the average compatriot doesn’t really know what hymn you are singing or which sheet you are singing it from.

In the spirit of the month of love, let us take a fun, soft approach. The point at hand is that we can make our people’s participation in tourism a bit more attractive. But this must be strategised.

I always love it when PaJohn Dadson romanticises his domestic travel initiatives with tags such as ‘Wango Wango’, ‘A Highlander Affair’, ‘ A Fling in the Brong’, ‘ Savannah Safari’, etc.

That is the way to beat this drum. Other romantics, such as Jay Jay Segbefia’s BraveHearts and Adventure Junkies, have also put in their best. 

Some efforts are going on to promote domestic tourism. Now, if action is not deliberately rolled out to meet needs, the demand for domestic tourism services will still rise, but the satisfaction will drop.

I moved my family around during the recent holiday season and I prefer to keep the low points to myself. But they were really low.

The problem is that when these below-par experiences continue to happen, it would lead to mass discontent and even resentment.

I must say that at the awareness level, things are turning around. With the publication of a few more books about Ghana’s landscape and culture, some good points have been scored.

Social media also allows people’s experiences out there to be shared instantly and among wider groups. This awareness in itself is a resource as it leads to certain movements.

I remember Kafui Praise, a lady photographer friend of mine who had an assignment to cover a wedding up north. She mobilised extra money and managed to visit Mole Park before coming down to Accra.

I have people, fresh out of school, who come up to me and say I want to travel around Ghana and write about it. It’s such a hopeful thing to mentor them.