Headlines for Travel and Tourism News 21/04/25
U.S. Adds Ghana to Travel Advisory List Over Safety Concerns
Barcelona Moves to Limit Tourists Amid Overcrowding and Local Backlash
Experts Push for Tamale-Bolgatanga Expressway as Airport Plans Face Scrutiny
The U.S. Department of State has updated its global travel advisory, adding Ghana to a list of countries where travellers should exercise increased caution.The advisory cites rising violent crime, civil unrest near border regions, and safety concerns for women and LGBTQ+ individuals. Ghana joins countries like Brazil, the UAE, India, Saudi Arabia, Spain, the UK, and the Netherlands, all flagged for risks such as terrorism, organised crime, and restrictive local laws.
The update is part of ongoing efforts to keep U.S. citizens informed about potential threats abroad.
The Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL) has announced plans to construct an aerodrome in Bolgatanga, capital of the Upper East Region.
While the move is intended to open up the northern belt of the country and improve regional connectivity, it has sparked scepticism over its commercial viability, especially in light of challenges faced by other domestic airports.
Facilities such as the Ho Airport remain largely underutilised, struggling to attract consistent passenger traffic. These underperforming airports continue to incur heavy losses, which are offset by more profitable hubs like the Kotoka International Airport. The financial burden of maintaining domestic facilities, including Kumasi, Tamale, Sunyani, Wa, and Terminal 2 in Accra, is a growing concern, particularly with the domestic airport tax still pegged at GHC 5 per passenger. This amount is deemed grossly inadequate to cover the full spectrum of operational costs such as electricity, water, waste management, and infrastructure maintenance
For instance, in 2024, passenger throughput for domestic travel stood at 862,727, generating about GHC 4.3 million—translating to an average of GHC 360,000 per month, far below what is needed to sustain even a single regional airport like Tamale, where monthly operating expenses hover around one million cedis.
Amid debates surrounding the proposed Bolgatanga Aerodrome, experts are urging government to reconsider the project’s practicality, citing financial sustainability and passenger demand concerns. Aviation consultant Sean Mendis argued that the viability of regional airports like Tamale is constrained by artificially low revenue caps, not by lack of demand. He suggested that adjusting the domestic airport tax to about GHC 50 per passenger could help cover operational costs and make such facilities self-sustaining.
While proponents of the Bolgatanga project believe air travel could boost economic activity in the Upper East Region, others recommend exploring more feasible alternatives. A senior airport construction expert has proposed the development of an expressway connecting Tamale to Bolgatanga, asserting that such infrastructure would have greater long-term economic benefits. Improved road access, the expert said, would facilitate the movement of people and goods, especially in an area not conveniently served by air travel.
Until Ghana implements a unified approach to air travel financing—one that recalibrates the passenger tax and aligns infrastructure investments with demand realities—the Bolgatanga project risks becoming another underutilised facility. Calls for a detailed feasibility study involving all stakeholders continue to grow, highlighting the need for a clear, data-driven strategy before breaking ground.
Spanish authorities have announced new measures to curb tourist numbers in Barcelona, one of Europe’s most visited cities, as part of efforts to address the growing strain on local infrastructure and residents. The city’s tourism board will implement stricter limits on tour group sizes, revise rules for short-term rentals, and intensify crackdowns on unlicensed accommodations.
These changes come amid mounting pressure from locals who argue that mass tourism is driving up housing costs, overwhelming public transport, and eroding the city’s cultural character. Barcelona’s mayor, Jaume Collboni, stated that the new strategy aims to create a more sustainable tourism model that prioritizes quality over quantity.
With over 12 million tourists visiting the city annually, the new regulations are expected to reshape how travelers experience Barcelona, encouraging slower, more mindful tourism while preserving the city’s heritage and livability.
Source : African Tourism & Hospitality News -Joycelyn Marigold
