The Tour Operators Union of Ghana (TOUGHA), under the leadership of its President, Yvonne Donkor, is advancing a renewed push to forge stronger collaborations with East African nations — a strategic move aimed at enhancing regional tourism integration and promoting cross-border travel within Africa.
According to mobile.ghanaweb.com, earlier this month, Donkor embarked on a working tour of Kenya, Tanzania and Zanzibar, where she engaged key tourism and government stakeholders to explore opportunities for collaboration and connectivity across the continent.
Her first stop was in Kenya, where she attended this year’s Magical Kenya Travel Expo (MKTE) one of East Africa’s largest tourism trade events that brings together international buyers, sellers and destination marketers.
Following the event, she continued to Tanzania and Zanzibar to further deepen ties and create platforms for cross-border tourism exchange.
While in Zanzibar, Donkor held high-level discussions with the Principal Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism and Heritage, Dr Aboud Suleiman Jumbe, the Lord Mayor of Zanzibar City Council, Mahmoud M. Mussa and Dr Abdulla Mohammed Juma, Director, Ministry of Tourism and Heritage, Department of Tourism.
The talks focused on cultural tourism, heritage promotion and sustainable destination development between Ghana and Zanzibar.
Significantly, the discussions also explored the possibility of TOUGHA participating in next year’s Z-Summit Zanzibar, an annual global tourism event that convenes leading industry stakeholders, investors and innovators to network, share insights and shape the future of tourism.
TOUGHA’s participation, Donkor noted, would help position Ghanaian tour operators and destinations more prominently on the African and international tourism stage.
In Tanzania, Donkor also met with executives of Air Tanzania, which is set to commence direct flights between Tanzania and Ghana in the coming days, a development expected to strengthen connectivity and encourage both tourism and business travel between West and East Africa.
Back in Accra, during TOUGHA’s monthly general meeting, officials from Air Tanzania made a formal presentation to TOUGHA members on the airline’s imminent flight operations to Ghana.
Speaking at the engagements, Donkor expressed her optimism about the new partnership and the growing momentum for intra-African tourism.
“For far too long, Africans have had to travel through Europe or the Middle East to reach fellow African destinations,” Donkor said.
“With Air Tanzania’s direct flights to Ghana, we are breaking down barriers and making it easier for Africans to connect, explore and do business with one another. This is a milestone for African tourism integration.”
She added that TOUGHA remains committed to building bridges across the continent in alignment with the African Union’s Agenda 2063, which envisions an integrated and prosperous Africa driven by its own people.
“Our vision is to make Africa the first choice for Africans. Through partnerships like these, we can create seamless travel experiences, strengthen cultural ties, and unlock the vast tourism potential that exists across our regions,” she emphasised.
