General News
High Hotel Prices Could Drive Tourists Away from Cape Coast — Cape Coast North MP
The Member of Parliament for Cape Coast North Constituency in the Central Region, Hon. Dr Kwamena Minta Nyarku, has raised concerns about what he considers excessively high hotel rates in Cape Coast, warning that the situation could discourage tourists from visiting and staying in the city.
According to the MP, the rising cost of accommodation is becoming a major factor for visitors when deciding whether to explore Cape Coast and its numerous historical, cultural and natural attractions.
Dr Nyarku made the remarks at the second edition of the Cape Coast development forum and fundraising ceremony, held to support the city’s eight-year development plan.
He challenged the widely held view that Cape Coast has already reached its full potential as a tourism destination, stressing the need for the metropolis to diversify its tourism attractions beyond the Cape Coast Castle.
The MP noted that for Cape Coast to become a competitive tourism hub, authorities and stakeholders must ensure that visitors have access to affordable accommodation, quality entertainment, reliable transportation, adequate security and other essential services.
He explained that tourism is not sustained by attractions alone, but by the overall experience visitors receive from the moment they arrive until they leave.
Cape Coast remains one of Ghana’s major tourism destinations, attracting both local and international visitors to its historic landmarks, cultural sites and coastal attractions. The tourism sector also supports hotels, restaurants, tour operators, transport businesses and numerous small enterprises in the city.
However, Dr Nyarku warned that expensive accommodation could threaten these economic benefits if tourists begin to view Cape Coast as an overly costly destination.
He therefore called for greater attention to the pricing of tourism-related services and the development of new attractions that can encourage visitors to spend more time in the city.
The MP believes that improving affordability, infrastructure and the overall tourism experience will be crucial to unlocking Cape Coast’s full potential and ensuring that tourism continues to contribute significantly to the city’s economic development.
