The Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management at Tamale Technical University (TaTU) in partnered with the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) to celebrate the Regional World Tourism Day 2025 at Botanga, a scenic community near the White Volta River known for its natural landscapes, fishing traditions, and potential as an emerging eco-tourism site.
The collaboration aimed to bridge academia and industry, equipping TaTU students with hands-on experience while positioning Northern Ghana as a sustainable tourism hub.
The event attended by the Ecotourism and Hospitality Management and students of the University for Development Studies, Northern Regional Chapter of the Ghana Hoteliers Association aligned with the theme “Tourism and Sustainable Transformation,” emphasized how tourism can drive environmental conservation, community empowerment, and economic growth while preserving cultural heritage.
The celebration which took place at Botanga, about 20 km from Tamale with tree-planting and Community clean-up was aimed at promoting sustainable practices, echoing GTA’s broader 2025 focus on environmental stewardship.
Students from the TaTU and UDS, Tour guide operators and some locals were educated on eco-tourism management by the Regional Director of GTA Counsel Angelou Yao Dogbe and the team.
Head of the Department of Ecotourism and Hospitality Management at UDS’s Nyankpala Campus Prof Raymond Adongo noted that, promoting domestic help to grow the communities and the nation while the youth get engaged to curb the unemployment rate.
He called for increased investment in value addition to local products to enhance appeal and economic benefits for communities.
“To boost domestic tourism in Ghana, we must invest in value addition to our local products and resources. This includes processing Shea butter, crafts, and agricultural goods into appealing, marketable items that attract visitors. Hygiene practices, community involvement, and partnerships between academia, government, and industry are essential” he stated.
According to him, Northern Ghana’s untapped potentials like festivals, eco-sites, and cultural heritage can drive economic growth if well prioritized and therefore the need to transform tourism into a tool for empowerment, not just leisure.
He emphasized hygiene, community involvement, and partnerships between academia, government, and industry to unlock Northern Ghana’s tourism potential.
Northern Regional Director of GTA Aneglo Yossi Dogbe Esq. said, the WTD was marked to underscore tourism’s role in national development with TaTU-GTA initiative in Botanga standing out for its educational focus and rural outreach.
This partnership is not to commemorate the day but also build long-term capacity in hospitality and tourism education at TaTU, fostering “sustainable transformation” through youth involvement and community ties, he noted.
This year’s event reminds us that, tourism is not merely a journey of discovery it is a bridge to harmony, a catalyst for unity, and a foundation for lasting prosperity, he said.
“As an Authority, we are recommitted to fostering tranquility in our tourist sites in building investor confidence to create jobs for the youth, transform the region into a beacon for sustainable economic growth”, he stated.
As we have done in past observances with tree-planting initiatives at schools and now at Botanga, let us continue championing green practices, for tourism and conservation walk hand in hand, he added.
Some students from TaTU and UDS expressed gratitude for participating in this year’s celebrating in the planting of trees to commemorate the occasion.
