Some of the tourists’ key tourist attractions in Ghana generally record a large number of tourists, especially during the peak season. Unsustainable tourism, also known as overtourism, is associated with several negative impacts, such as overcrowding, cultural erosion, and environmental degradation, among many others. The tourism authority has developed some strategies to fight the negative issues.
1. Regulate Tourism Industry
Tourism is a very large industry with various categories and sub-categories. Travel and tourism agencies, accommodation, and hospitality fall under tourism; therefore, the industry has a lot of businesses to regulate. Statistics indicate that the number of unlicensed tourist businesses is growing each day. Regulating the number of tourists who can visit a destination at a time is the leading way to eliminate overcrowding.
2. Receive Tourists as Temporary Residents
The idea of managing destinations can positively impact tourism and improve the dynamics of tourism and the host-community relationship. Allocating a certain period to temporary residents allows visitors to fully explore regions, bond with the host, and create lasting memories. Temporary residents generally change the nature of tourism and improve visitors’ experience. This allows society to benefit and reap all the benefits associated with tourism. This prevents pollution and erosion of tourists in these areas.
3. Tourists Fees
Charging an entrance fee to access a tourist attraction site is a great way to avoid overcrowding and environmental degradation. The fees are used to develop and renovate destinations to keep them in good condition and to keep them appealing to tourists. Although those fees are controversial and set low to deter visitors, they enable local authorities to raise money to fund tourism management.
One of the ways to control over-tourism is through Responsible Tourism, where tourists should be treated as temporary residents. Then, it is not unreasonable that overnight tourists and day visitors should contribute to the maintenance of the public realm that they are visiting and using. Tourism fees are generally levied through accommodation providers and occasionally through tour companies. Many hot tourists in Ghana have introduced fees depending on their quality.
4. Publishing the Expected Code of Conduct
Some tourists tend to bring Western cultures and beliefs. Although some of these beliefs have positive impacts, others affect society negatively and may result in the erosion of cultures. The unique culture of Ghana motivates a certain percentage of tourists to visit Ghana. Therefore, when this is eroded, those tourists will no longer visit those regions. The locals are reminded always to uphold their cultures, customs, and beliefs and always preserve them.
5. Match Demand and Supply
When the demand is high, means that a large number of tourists travel to Ghana. Most of these tourists might be traveling to specific famous destinations, which may result in overcrowding since the resources of those destinations might not meet the demand. Travel and tourism operators should always ensure that demands match supply.
There are various ways to ensure that demand and supply match; for instance, timed ticketing and seasonal pricing help match demand to supply and can contribute to ensuring that visitors have a better experience. Travel websites and applications have greatly helped match demand and supply because when a tourist chooses a date that is already booked, they are requested to choose other dates.
6. Cooperation and Good planning
The Local governments and national parks can generally control the siting of accommodation and other visitor services, depending on national planning policy frameworks. They can prevent the opening of accommodation and tourist shopping sites mainly targeting tourists and day visitors, such as souvenir shops. This regulates the number of people in a region.
