The Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) has underscored the role of football as a major tool for promoting domestic tourism and projecting Ghana’s cultural identity, hospitality, and recreational assets.
According to the Tema Regional Manager of the GTA, Mr Isaac Asiam, the widespread appeal of football offers a strategic platform for tourism stakeholders to attract visitors to local destinations while encouraging Ghanaians to patronise home-based recreational facilities.
He made the remarks during a live screening of the Ghana-Croatia international football match organised by the GTA Tema Regional Office in collaboration with Passion’s Pub at Tema.
Mr Asiam noted that sporting events naturally draw diverse audiences together, creating opportunities for the hospitality and tourism sectors to showcase their services and facilities.
“Football remains one of the strongest unifying factors across the globe and provides an opportunity for tourism stakeholders to showcase Ghana’s hospitality, culture and recreational facilities,” he said.
He added that Ghana’s participation in major international football tournaments continues to boost the country’s global visibility, indirectly supporting tourism promotion efforts.
“Whenever Ghana participates in major international football competitions, the country’s visibility increases significantly, creating opportunities for people around the world to learn more about our tourism destinations and rich cultural heritage,” he said.
Mr Asiam encouraged stakeholders in the tourism industry to leverage sporting events to promote local attractions and strengthen the hospitality sector, while also urging citizens to support initiatives that enhance Ghana’s image abroad.
The live screening event attracted football fans, residents, and patrons who gathered in large numbers to experience the match in a lively and communal atmosphere.
Although the Black Stars suffered defeat in the encounter, supporters remained upbeat, with some expressing optimism about the team’s prospects in subsequent stages of the competition.
Participants at the event commended the organisers for combining sports entertainment with tourism promotion, noting that such initiatives help strengthen community engagement while boosting patronage of local hospitality businesses.
