Story by: David Azure, Bolgatanga
The Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) in the Upper East Region has celebrated World Tourism Day ahead of the national celebration, with a strong warning that the region risks losing visibility if it fails to embrace Artificial Intelligence.
The official global theme for World Tourism Day 2026, observed on September 27, is “Digital Agenda and Artificial Intelligence to Redesign Tourism.”
While the Eastern Region is expected to host this year’s national celebration from September 26 to October 3, 2026, the Upper East Region has taken the lead to host its regional event in Bolgatanga.
Speaking at the event, the Regional Director of GTA, Joseph Appiagyei, said the theme is revolutionary and timely.
“Today, the Upper East Region joins the rest of the world to celebrate World Tourism Day 2026. On behalf of the Ghana Tourism Authority, I extend warm greetings to all tourism practitioners, our cherished partners, and the good people of the Upper East,” he said.
“We have gathered here to create and contribute to awareness about the importance of tourism and its profound social, cultural, political, and economic impact globally,” he stated.
Mr. Appiagyei said tourism promotion has shifted from brochures and word of mouth to AI-driven discovery.
“For decades, we have marketed the Upper East with brochures and word of mouth. We have relied on the Pikworo Slave Camp, the Tongo Hills and Tengzug Shrines, the Paga Crocodile Ponds, and our beautiful basket weaving heritage to speak for themselves. Today, Artificial Intelligence determines whether a tourist in Germany, Nigeria, or Accra even sees us when they ask their phone, ‘where should I go in Ghana?'”
“This is the reality: AI can empower small businesses, or it can concentrate tourists in a few already famous destinations and leave potentially rich destinations like ours behind,” he added.
He stressed that ignoring the digital agenda would have dire consequences.
“The visibility of the Upper East Region will be compromised if we blatantly ignore this theme,” he cautioned.
The Upper East Regional Director of Museums, Queen Mother Prisca Naambome Yenzie, who chaired the event, emphasized the importance of media involvement in preserving heritage assets, saying, “We need to involve the media to preserve our heritage assets”.
Bolga FM | 102.7 Mhz | David Azure | Bolgatanga|
