Enhancing the Development o of Urban Tourism: Analysis of the Effects of Urbanization on Urban Attractions in the City of Kumasi, Ghana
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Date
2009-08-18
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Abstract
This research study explores the links between the concepts of urbanization and urban tourism in the city of Kumasi. It provides an assessment of the effects of rapid urbanization on the city's urban attractions while highlighting emerging issues that had influenced the situation so that they can be addressed to enhance development of urban tourism.
The study employed both qualitative and quantitative approaches due to die contemporary nature of the subject under investigation. The purposive sampling procedures were applied in selecting institutions to be visited, attractions to be analyzed and officials to be interviewed with an aim of acquiring relevant information. The techniques used to collect data included documentary study, field interviews, personal observation and photographs taking.
The study revealed that the city experienced rapid urbanization in recent decades which presented a number of development opportunities and challenges. The inability of the responsible authorities to take advantage of the presented opportunities to address the challenges resulted in most of the urban attractions becoming negatively affected by die urbanization process. Though the literature tells us that tourism is reputed to be the world's largest industry in terms of international *trade and is currently the major contributor to the global economy, this sector is yet to be well developed in the study area. The analysis indicated that there were potential urban attractions that were being destroyed or under threat of being destroyed in the near future by ongoing development activities. However the study found out that the city was still rich in historical architectures and had various underdeveloped areas that have the potentials of becoming major attractions if they could be well developed, preserved and properly maintained.
Lastly the study comes up with valuable recommendations focusing on the initial procedures that need to be undertaken in order to let urban tourism become the driving force of the city's economic development while reducing the negative effects and maximizing the utilization of the opportunities presented by rapid urbanization. Hie aim is to assist the key players in urban management, by broadening their understanding of the urban tourism concept while giving insights on issues to be addressed in order to enhance the city's economic and spatial development.
Description
A Thesis submitted to the School of Graduate Studies, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of a degree of International Joint Master of Science (MSc) in Development Planning and Management.