U.S. Virgin Islands and Ghana Sign Tourism Cooperation Agreement at Mini Summit

U.S. Virgin Islands – Governor Albert Bryan Jr. has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ghana Tourism Authority to establish a structured partnership aimed at strengthening tourism development, cultural exchange, trade facilitation, and investment promotion between Ghana and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The agreement was signed at the USVI-Africa Mini Summit held at The Westin Beach Resort and Spa at Frenchman’s Reef on St. Thomas, marking a significant step in deepening people-to-people ties and expanding economic cooperation between the African continent and the Virgin Islands.

Governor Bryan described the agreement as a move that goes beyond tourism to embrace shared heritage and economic opportunity.

“This memorandum is about more than travel. It is about connection,” he said, noting that the partnership aligns tourism with trade and investment priorities while creating opportunities for cultural, youth, and private-sector collaboration.

The MoU sets out key objectives including the promotion of two-way travel, joint destination marketing, integration of tourism with trade and investment strategies, and stronger engagement between communities and businesses in both jurisdictions.

Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Tourism Authority, Maame Efua Houadjeto, said the agreement reflects a shared commitment to long-term cooperation rooted in cultural ties and economic growth. She noted that the partnership positions both destinations to expand visitor arrivals, broaden market access, and develop joint tourism and heritage initiatives.

Under the agreement, cooperation will be driven through five key pillars. These include destination-to-destination tourism collaboration through joint marketing efforts and participation in international tourism exhibitions, as well as cultural and heritage exchange programmes that promote shared African-Caribbean history, creative industry partnerships, and youth and educational exchanges.

The MoU also covers airlift, cruise, and maritime tourism, with plans to engage airlines and cruise operators to improve connectivity, enhance port experiences, and share best practices in maritime tourism development.

In addition, the agreement promotes investment and private-sector engagement by highlighting tourism and hospitality investment opportunities, encouraging business partnerships, and supporting joint ventures in hotels, resorts, eco-tourism, and cultural tourism projects.

Capacity building and institutional cooperation form another pillar of the partnership, including professional exchange programmes, joint training in marketing, sustainability, digital transformation, and service delivery, as well as technical collaboration among relevant agencies.

The MoU allows for the appointment of focal persons and the creation of a Joint Working Committee to oversee implementation, timelines, and monitoring. It also specifies that the agreement does not impose financial obligations on either party, with any future commitments to be agreed upon separately.

The agreement takes effect immediately upon signing and will remain valid for five years, with the option of renewal by mutual consent.

Governor Bryan said the partnership represents a new chapter in relations between the two destinations, focused on choice, collaboration, and shared prosperity.