Mark Okraku-Mantey, deputy minister of tourism, culture, and the creative arts has tabled some suggestions for enhancing the country’s tourism industry.
The deputy minister stressed the significance of four main strategies, symbolised by the acronym MICE, in an interview with Adom FM at the recently renovated Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park. “In tourism, there are four things or strategies that Westerners use to drive the tourism industry. The acronym is MICE, which stands for meeting, incentive, conference, and events.”
He emphasised that tourist destinations alone are not enough to bring in a significant amount of money. By putting attention into the MICE, industry, governments may attract large-scale gatherings, which in turn fill hotels, increase spending across sectors, and stimulate economic growth.
“Incentives involve the media promoting tourist sites through interviews and showcasing unique experiences. Conferences, especially those involving international bodies like the United Nations and World Bank, are significant events that can bring immense benefits. By offering incentives such as visits to tourist sites, we can further enhance their experience,” he elaborated.
He also noted the importance of high-profile events like the Global Citizen Festival and other major festivals like Afrochella and Afronation to the success of the tourism industry.
Mark made the observation that private companies frequently gain more from such occurrences than the government.
He emphasised the significance of the Roads Ministry in fostering the development of Ghana’s tourist industry, highlighting the value of teamwork in this endeavour. “We are focusing on improving our marketing efforts. It is better to have a small tourist site with robust advertisement than numerous sites with limited marketing,” he said.
