Some of the stakeholders of Accra Weizo Travel and Tourism Expo
Yvonne Dong-Cour, chairman of Ghana's tour operator Union (Tarta), highlights the urgent need for improved cross-border tourism policies and regional cooperation to stimulate travel within Africa.
She called on June 27, 2025 at the 8th edition of the Accra Weizo Travel and Tourism Expo, held in Accra on the theme of “Seamless Travel in West Africa: Opportunities and Challenges.”
Providing a message of goodwill, she highlighted the importance of rethinking the ECOWAS-Free Movement Protocol, confirming it is more effective than today's evolving travel environment.
“The free movement of people, goods and services is essential for economic growth and cultural exchange. However, there is a need to collectively rethink how the ECOWAS protocol is implemented to accommodate regional tourism and trade,” she said.
She highlighted Tarta's commitment to policies that promote cross-border tourism and empower local operators in a competitive, unified regional market.
During the panel discussion, she outlined three major restrictions affecting travel and tourism in West Africa.
1. VISA Challenges: While some progress has been made, contradictions in visa policies across ECOWAS Member States will hinder free movement and irritate travelers.
2. Bottleneck: Travelers often face fear, harassment and delays at border points due to inefficiency and professional conduct by officials.
3. Inadequate transport connections: Inadequate road networks, undeveloped railway systems and limited direct flight options have made inter-country travel expensive and inconvenient.
“These issues are closely tied to the weak implementation of the ECOWAS protocol,” added Donkor.
“Member countries do not fully support their commitment, and there is a lack of checks and balance. Without proper surveillance and enforcement, the vision of seamless local travel remains out of reach.”
She also highlighted the need for increased public awareness and training for border and immigrant officials to prevent misinformation and promote citizen rights under the ECOWAS protocol.
“With a larger education and public awareness campaign, citizens will know their rights and officials will better understand how to deal with travel-related issues professionally.”
He also spoke at the event at Maame Efua Houadjeto, CEO of the Ghana Tourism Agency (GTA), who gave a keynote speech on behalf of Minister of Tourism and Culture.
She repeated her bold and comprehensive vision for tourism in Ghana, highlighting her plans to make tourism a central pillar of national development.
“The future of tourism in Ghana is people-centric. We must support local businesses, promote communities and promote sustainability,” she said.
Houadjeto pointed to Ghana's continued investment in green tourism infrastructure such as ecolodges and game parks, aimed at creating environmentally responsible travel experiences while creating jobs.
She also called for harmonious visa systems, improved infrastructure and stronger public-private partnerships across West Africa to fully unlock the potential of regional tourism.
“Tourism is about storytelling. For a long time, African stories have been told by others. Now we have to own stories and use tourism as a tool to reconnect with our heritage and reconnect with our global awareness.”
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