Eastern Region is expected to host this year’s World Tourism Day celebration from September 26 to October 3, 2026.
The theme for this year’s World Tourism Day celebration is “Digital Agenda and Artificial Intelligence to Redesign Tourism.”
The celebration, which strategically coincides with the Eastern Expo 2026, would bring together stakeholders in tourism, culture, creative arts and investments.
World Tourism Day would officially open on September 27, 2026, while the Eastern Expo opens on September 26, 2026.
In a statement ahead of the celebrations, the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, said digital tools and Artificial Intelligence could transform how we market our destinations, understand visitor behaviour, improve customer service, develop tourism products and create new and more personalised experiences.
“We must therefore equip our young people, tourism enterprises and creative practitioners with the knowledge and skills required to participate meaningfully in the emerging digital tourism economy,” she added.
Ms Gomashie said that “as a country we must ensure that digital transformation complements, rather than replaces, the authenticity that makes Ghana unique”.
“The security in our country, our heritage, culture, festivals, cuisine, music, arts, crafts, landscapes and, above all, the warmth of our people are the foundations upon which compelling tourism experiences must be built. “
The fair will be held on the theme: "Unlocking Opportunities for Sustainable Trade, Tourism and Investment".
Huge crowds
The fair and tourism activities are expected to attract huge crowds.
All 33 municipal and district assemblies are expected to showcase their economic and trade potentials at the fair dubbed "Eastern Expo 2026.”
The Eastern Region has been divided into five blocks, namely the Kwahu, Akyem, Krobo, Akuapem and the New Juaben, with each block allotted different days to exhibit their economic and trade potential at the Expo.
The region abounds in tourism sites and facilities and, if well marketed, would put the region not only on the country’s tourism map but also on the tourism maps of Africa and the world.
Some of the tourism sites in the region are Boti Falls at Huhunya, Aburi Botanical Gardens at Aburi, the Tallest Tree at Akim Oda, the Umbrella Rock at Huhunya, Bunso Eco-tourism Site at Bunso, Abetifi Stone Age at Abetifi, Obourtabiri Mountain at Koforidua, Odweanoma Mountain at Kwahu Atibie, Obour Abogyese at Kodidi in Donkorkrom among others.
Ms Gomashie said through the Black Star Experience, the ministry was committed to presenting Ghana to the world “through authentic, immersive and memorable experiences rooted in our identity and creativity.”
She stressed that “sustainable tourism must also remain at the heart of our agenda,” stressing that the success of tourism could not be measured only by visitor numbers and revenue, “but also by the jobs created, businesses strengthened, women and young people empowered, communities benefiting from tourism and our natural and cultural heritage protected for future generations.”
She said that required strong collaboration among Government, the private sector, traditional authorities, local assemblies, communities, investors, development partners, tourism professionals and vigilant Ghanaians.
“As we celebrate World Tourism Day 2026, let us renew our commitment to innovation, responsible investment, digital transformation, improved infrastructure, inclusive tourism development and building the capacity of industry players.
Let us ensure that tourism creates opportunities not only for visitors and investors, but also for the entrepreneur, the craftsperson, the farmer, the tour guide, the creative practitioner, the hospitality worker and the communities whose heritage makes Ghana truly special.”
Eastern Expo
Speaking ahead of the celebration, the Eastern Regional Minister, Rita Akosua Adjei Awatey, said the Eastern Regional Coordinating Council, in collaboration with the Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, came out with the idea of the fair not merely as an annual exhibition but as a regional launchpad for local economic development.
