Developing Agro-Tourism Tours on the Cocoa Sector in Africa: Emerging Issues from Ghana
Keywords:
Agrotourism; cocoa agrotours; Ahafo Ano South District; Ashanti Region; GhanaAbstract
The need for Africa to diversify its tourism offerings continue to receive research attention. Against this backdrop, this study examined the potential of developing agrotourism, with specific reference to the cocoa sector in Ghana. Ghana has carved a global image for itself as a cocoa production hub. Using a mixed-methodological approach, the study purposively solicited data from respondents in four selected communities that show great potential for cocoa agrotourism business. Semi-structured questionnaires were administered to 120 people selected from the four selected communities. The study also purposively selected and interviewed key informants in the tourism and agriculture sectors. The key findings from the study revealed that cocoa agrotours is a potential avenue to alleviate rural poverty and economic hardships in the country. It must however not be seen as a panacea to rural poverty alleviation. Based on findings, the study concludes that conscious efforts by locals, private and government are needed towards product development, diversification and marketing in the agrotourism niche market.
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Ntiamoah, A. & Afrane, G. (2008). Environmental impacts of cocoa production and processing in Ghana: life cycle assessment approach. Journal of Cleaner Production. Vol. 16, No. 16. pp. 1735-1740.
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Phillip, S.; Hunter, C. & Blackstock, K. (2010). A typology for defining agritourism. Tourism Management. Vol. 31, pp. 754-758.
Riley, R. W. & Love, L. L. (2000). The State of Qualitative Tourism Research. Annals of Tourism. Vol 27, No. 1. pp. 164-187.
Schroth, G. & Harvey, C. A. (2007). Biodiversity conservation in cocoa production landscapes: an overview. Biodiversity and Conservation. Vol. 16, No. 8, pp. 2237-2244.
Tweneboah, C. K. (2000). Modern agriculture in the tropics. Food Crops. Co. Wood publishers, pp. 37-191.
Barbieri, C. (2013). Assessing the Sustainability of Agritourism in the US: A comparison between agritourism and other farm entrepreneurial ventures. Journal of Sustainable Tourism. Vol. 21, No. 2. pp. 252-270.
Catalino, A. H, & Lizardo. M. (2004). Agriculture, Environment Services and Agrotourism in the Dominican Republic. E-Journal of Agricultural and Development Economics. Vol. 1, No.1, pp. 87-116.
Cocoa Producers Alliance (2011). COPAL Cocoa Information. No 428.
Creswell, J.W. (2008). Educational Research: Planning. Conducting and Evaluating Quantitative and Qualitative Research (2nd Ed.). New Jersey: Pearson Education.
Denzin, N. K & Lincoln, Y. S. 3rd ed (2005). Handbook of Qualitative Research. London: Sage.
Eshun, G. (2011). Ecotourism and Social Research. Saarbrücken: VDM.
Eshun, G & Tettey. C (2014). Agrotourism development in Ghana: A study of prospect and challenges at Adjeikrom Cocoa Tour Facility. Bulletin of Geography. Socio Economic Series Vol. 25, No.25. pp. 81-99.
Eshun, G.; Agbadze, P. E. & Asante P. C. (2014). Agrotourism, entrepreneurship and skills: a case of poultry farms in the Kumasi Metropolis, Ghana. African Journal of Hospitality, Tourism and Leisure. Vol. 3, No. 2, pp. 1-10.
Eshun, G. & Madge, C. (2012). Now let me share this with you: Exploring Poetry as a Method for Postcolonial Geography Research. Antipode. Vol. 44 no. 4, pp. 1395–1428.
Fennell, D. A (2008). Ecotourism: An Introduction. 3rd edn. Routledge, London.
Flanigan, S.; Blackstock, K. & Hunter. C. (2014). Agrotourism from the perspective of providers and visitors: a typology-based study. Tourism Management. Vol. 40, pp. 394-405.
Fleischer A. & Tchectchik A. (2005). Does rural tourism benefit from agriculture? Tourism Management. Vol. 26. pp. 493-501.
Ghana Review International. (2007). COCOBOD Anniversary Edition Issue 123, Micromedia consultant Gh. Ltd, pp. 13-28.
Ghana Statistical Service Report. (2012). Population and Housing Census, Accra, Government of Ghana.
Hamilpurka, S. (2012). Agri-Tourism In Karnataka – Constraints and Possibilities. International Journal of Research In Commerce, Economics & Management. Vol. 2, No. 7, pp. 106-111.
Hjalager, A-M. (1996). Agricultural diversification into tourism: Evidence of a European community development programme. Tourism management. Vol.17, No. 2, pp. 103-111.
Kameri-Mbote, A. P. & Cullet, P. (1999). Agro-Biodiversity and International Law- A Conceptual Framework. Journal of Environmental Law. Vol. 11, No. 2. pp. 257-279.
Kumbhar, V. M. (2012). Tourists Expectations Regarding Agritourism: Empirical Evidences from Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg District of Konkan (Maharashtra). Online International Interdisciplinary Research Journal. Vol. 2, No. 3. pp.82-91.
Manful, E. & Eshun, G. (2015). Ethical ethos in cross-national social research: Ghanaian researchers’ Perspective. International Journal of Research in Social Sciences. Vol. 5, No. 1, pp. 238-351.
Ministry of Food and Agriculture (2010). Medium Term Agriculture Sector Investment Plan 2010—2011–2015. Accra, Ghana.
Ministry of Food and Agriculture (2011). Facts and Figures: Statistics, Research and Information Directorate. Accra, Ghana.
Mkono, M. (2013). African and Western tourists: object authenticity quest? Annals of Tourism Research. Vol. 41, pp. 195-214.
Ntiamoah, A. & Afrane, G. (2008). Environmental impacts of cocoa production and processing in Ghana: life cycle assessment approach. Journal of Cleaner Production. Vol. 16, No. 16. pp. 1735-1740.
Okech, R.; Haghiri, M. & George, B. (2012). Rural Tourism as a Sustainable Development Alternative. An Analysis with Special Reference to Luanda, Kenya. CULTUR. Vol. 6, pp. 3-33.
Olya, H.G.; Alipour, H. & Dalir, S. (2014). An Entrepreneurial Tourism Project through Agro-Tourism Farm in Iran. Journal of Sustainable Development Studies. Vol. 6, Issue 1, pp. 48-63.
Phelan, C. & Sharpley, R (2011). Exploring agrotourism entrepreneurship in the UK. Tourism Planning Development. Vol. 8, No. 2. pp. 21-136.
Phillip, S.; Hunter, C. & Blackstock, K. (2010). A typology for defining agritourism. Tourism Management. Vol. 31, pp. 754-758.
Riley, R. W. & Love, L. L. (2000). The State of Qualitative Tourism Research. Annals of Tourism. Vol 27, No. 1. pp. 164-187.
Schroth, G. & Harvey, C. A. (2007). Biodiversity conservation in cocoa production landscapes: an overview. Biodiversity and Conservation. Vol. 16, No. 8, pp. 2237-2244.
Tweneboah, C. K. (2000). Modern agriculture in the tropics. Food Crops. Co. Wood publishers, pp. 37-191.
Published
2020-05-26
How to Cite
Eshun, G., & Tichaawa, T. M. (2020). Developing Agro-Tourism Tours on the Cocoa Sector in Africa: Emerging Issues from Ghana: Array. EuroEconomica, 39(1). Retrieved from https://dj.univ-danubius.ro/index.php/EE/article/view/243
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