The West Africa Holidays, Travel and Tourism Expo (WAHTTEX) is expected to boost domestic tourism and expand business opportunities across the sub-region, with more than 5,000 trade participants and up to 200 exhibitors expected in Accra.
The three-day expo, scheduled for November 19 to 21, 2026, at the Palms Convention Centre, La Palm Royal Beach Hotel, will bring together tourism operators, travel agents, hoteliers, investors and other industry players to showcase products, establish partnerships and promote travel packages.
Speaking at the launch in Accra, the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, said domestic tourism was essential to building a resilient industry and deepening Ghanaians’ appreciation of their heritage.
“We must first inspire our own people to discover and appreciate Ghana before we can effectively invite the rest of the world to experience our country,” she said.
She urged tourism businesses to develop affordable and memorable packages to encourage Ghanaians to explore destinations across the country.
Ms. Gomashie said the government’s Black Star Experience initiative provided an opportunity to showcase Ghana’s culture, history, creativity and people to both domestic and international visitors.
“Our heritage is not simply something to preserve in museums. It is alive in our languages, festivals, food, music, dance, storytelling, architecture, traditional knowledge, fashion, crafts and the history of our communities,” she said.
She called for stronger collaboration among the government, the private sector, traditional authorities and local communities to ensure that tourism created jobs, supported businesses and improved livelihoods.
Regional tourism
The lead organiser of WAHTTEX, Daniel Asafra Tibu, said the expo would provide a marketplace for tourism and allied businesses in Ghana, West Africa and beyond to showcase their products, network and establish commercial partnerships.
He said the initiative would also encourage travel among West African countries and help local operators develop packages tailored to the domestic market.
Mr. Tibu cited figures presented by the minister during the Government Accountability Series, which showed that international arrivals increased from 1.29 million in 2024 to 1.31 million in 2025, while domestic visitors rose from 1.68 million to 1.79 million over the same period. He also said international tourism generated $4.34 billion in 2025.
Expo activities
The expo will feature exhibitions, business networking sessions, conferences, workshops and masterclasses on emerging trends in tourism, hospitality, technology, aviation and youth travel. Country celebrations and familiarisation trips to selected tourist destinations are also planned.
Mr. Tibu called on tourism associations, regional coordinating councils and agencies under the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts to participate in the expo and showcase their products and attractions.
He also appealed to the Ghana Tourism Authority to support the initiative to strengthen its credibility and attract industry players from across the world.
