African ChangeMakers Magazine - #ACMagazine #ACMagazine Issue 2, August 2018 | Page 23

Seeing the beauty of Africa in High Definition... It became the fourth largest source of foreign exchange earnings estimated at $2.2 million in 2015. It contributes approximately 4.8% to the gross domestic product (GDP). In the same vein. Ghana’s investment tourism began when her focus shifted from over reliance on natural resources i.e cocoa, gold, timber etc. which were identified as being overtly competitive and exhaustible this giving a basis for diversification so as to create alternative means of sustaining the economy. The goal of the Ghanaian government is to develop the country as an internationally competitive  and high quality destination through partnerships, investments, aggressive marketing and conservation of the country’s rich cultural, historical and environmental heritage. In Seychelles, tourism accounts for 60% of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) according to the Seychelles tourism board. The country currently markets itself as the purest and most un- commercialized destination in the world. Tourism accounts for more than 70% of the employment for her entire population of about 90,000 people. Last year the Island received 300,000 international tourists to its Islands. While some of the countries sighted above are making giant strides already, some other African countries like Nigeria,. Rwanda, Kenya etc. are beginning to garner their resources to plug into the booming industry. Nigeria with a population of over 190 million people and with vast landscape and natural resources, a rich traditional heritage and cultural hybrid of 250 ethnic tribes has the potential to attract international tourists.