Over the next 12 years Ghana aims to move from an off-the-beaten-track locale to a major player in African tourism. Ambitious plans are afoot to increase visitor numbers five-fold by 2027, capitalising on the country’s natural beauty, cultural heritage, hospitality, and safety and security. The World Travel & Tourism Council forecasts that the tourism sector will grow by an annual average...
Tourism
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Situated on the Gulf of Guinea in West Africa, Ghana’s natural resource wealth and status as a stable democracy have helped make it a prominent player in the region. It is the world’s second-largest exporter of cocoa, behind Côte d’Ivoire, and one of the continent’s largest gold producers. Recently discovered reserves of oil and gas have powered the economy to double-digit growth in the past decade.
Tourism is estimated to have directly contributed $12.7bn to the Saudi economy in 2013, equivalent to 1.7% of GDP, and this was forecast to rise by 5.2% to $13.3bn in 2014. Although religious tourism still dominates the industry, government efforts are under way to expand the sector’s offering, with opportunities available in various segments, including heritage and business tourism. Domestic...
Revenues for RAK’s tourism sector rose 44% in 2014 and the total number of overnight stays by guests grew by 72% to reach 2.14m.The tourism sector is estimated to support 307,000 jobs across the UAE, or 5.4% of total employment, which is expected to rise by 5.4% in 2015 and 2.6% per annum until 2025. Developers hope to see the area grow substantially in the next few years as the mixed...
With more limited hydrocarbons reserves compared to its UAE neighbours to the south, RAK has developed into an industrial hub thanks to its dynamic network of industrial free trade zones. Considerable natural resources feed the country’s thriving cement and ceramics industries while elsewhere the emirate is looking to leverage its varied landscapes in a bid to boost tourism revenues in line with general economic diversification targets.
Two straight years of record growth in Mexico’s tourism sector have solidified its importance as a motor for economic growth. Tourism contributes over 8.7% to Mexico’s GDP, employs 3.6m people directly and is the fourth most important source of foreign currency. The sector exceeded growth expectations for 2014, registering a record number of international tourist arrivals, at nearly 29.3m, and...