# Ghana Tourism Authority

The Ghana Tourism Authority is a Ghanaian state agency under the Ministry of Tourism, Arts & Culture responsible for the regulation of tourism in Ghana by marketing, promoting, licensing, classifying, researching and developing tourism facilities and services

## History

The Ghana Tourism Authority was established in 1960 as the Ghana Tourist Board. The board was renamed as the Ghana Tourism Authority in 2011 under act 817. The act extended the tasks of the agency to overseeing the implementation of government policies in the industry. The act also makes the agency a fully-fledged income generating authority by establishing a fund to which every tourism business is required to contribute one percent (1%) of its revenue for tourism development.
The Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture oversees eleven agencies, including the Ghana Tourism Authority, National Theatre of Ghana, and others, focusing on policy formulation and monitoring. Throughout its history, the Ghana Tourism Authority has consistently fulfilled its crucial function as the primary executing body for the promotion and global marketing of tourism, both within the country and on the international stage. In recent times, tourism has boomed in Ghana and Africa, becoming more exciting and educational.
In 2015, there were 897,000 arrivals, boosting businesses and the economy. The Ghana Tourism Authority actively supports the tourism industry by fostering sustainable development and enabling the provision of quality tourism services and products. Tourism in Ghana has been instrumental in promoting networking and employment opportunities. Ghana holds the distinction of being the first African nation to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the arrival of enslaved Africans from Jamestown, Accra, to Jamestown in Virginia, USA, in 1619.

## Notable Initiatives

The Ghana Tourism Authority has instituted some days annually to celebrate various themes in the country.
| Initiative | Commemoration | Year instituted | Date of Celebration |
| National Chocolate Day | Valentines Day (Love) | 2005 | 10 February - 14 February |
| Year of Return | 400 years since the first slave ships landed in the Americas | 2018 | 2019 |

### Year of Return

In 2019, The Year of Return, organized by The Ghana Tourism Authority, was a year-long initiative featuring tours, celebrations, and cultural events. Its aim was to encourage African Americans and the African diaspora to visit their ancestral homeland, boost tourism, and provide economic aid to Ghana. This initiative marked the 400th anniversary of the arrival of enslaved Africans in Jamestown, Virginia, during the Transatlantic Slave Trade.
The Year of Return drew in around one million visitors and boosted the economy by an estimated $1.9 billion. It had a transformative impact on attendees' lives beyond its economic success. One of the most unforgettable destinations that was visited is the Elmina Slave Castle, a significant edifice from the era of the Transatlantic slave trade, situated approximately three hours away from Accra, near Cape Coast.

## Tourist Sites
### Adventure
#### Bia National Park

Bia National Park is one-third of the Bia Conservancy Area, a biosphere reserve spanning 306 km$^2$. It's in the transitional zone between two types of tropical forests, and it protects the Bia River's drainage area. Established in 1935, it became a national park in 1974.
Bia National Park is in the Western North Region, west of Takoradi, with road access from Kumasi via Bibiani or from Tarkwa-Sefwi via Wiawso road. The best time for game viewing is from November to April during the long dry season, while the rainy seasons in May to June and September to October are less ideal due to slippery roads and colder weather.