Ghana–New Zealand Chamber seeks tourism partnerships between the two countries

The Ghana-New Zealand Chamber of Commerce is exploring opportunities to strengthen tourism and business ties between Ghana and New Zealand by connecting tourism operators, guides and industry stakeholders in both countries. The Executive Director of the Ghana–New Zealand Chamber of Commerce, Mr Isaac Koumessina, said the initiative would create opportunities for both countries to share tourism experiences, promote their attractions and develop partnerships within the sector. Speaking on the sidelines of the recently concluded 2026 Inter Tourism Expo in Cape Coast, he said the Chamber was working to facilitate connections between Ghanaian tourism businesses and their counterparts in New Zealand. Mr Kumesina said the Chamber’s involvement in the sixth edition of the expo followed an agreement with the organisers to collaborate on promoting tourism and business opportunities. “When Inter Tourism Expo contacted us, it was an exciting opportunity for us to collaborate. We had an MoU signed, and then we decided that we have to support the Inter Tourism Expo, the sixth edition of the Tourism Expo,” he said. He disclosed that the Chamber had held discussions with the Ghana Investment Promotion Authority (GIPA) on tourism and other sectors, including energy, as part of efforts to identify areas for cooperation. According to him, GIPA had also requested the organisation of an event to facilitate engagement with stakeholders in New Zealand and explore opportunities for linking tourism attractions in both countries. “Now, the GIPA also requested that we organise an event to get them into New Zealand. Then they can find out how many Ghanaians are in New Zealand, what are the tourism attraction areas in New Zealand, and how we can link both tourism attraction-related events between New Zealand and Ghana,” he said. Mr Kumesina said the proposed engagement would also provide an opportunity to connect tour operators and guides in Cape Coast with tourism agencies in New Zealand, enabling them to showcase local attractions and explore potential partnerships. He said stronger cooperation could help businesses in both countries benefit from tourism-related opportunities while expanding international exposure for Ghana’s tourism industry. The Chamber’s initiative comes as Ghana continues to explore ways to attract more international visitors and strengthen tourism’s contribution to economic development. Mr Kumesina also called for greater coordination among Ghana’s tourism agencies, citing New Zealand’s year-round tourism activities as a model Ghana could consider adopting to sustain visitor interest and create more business opportunities. He said stronger collaboration among tourism stakeholders, coupled with targeted promotion, could help position Ghana as a destination offering activities and experiences throughout the year.