Domestic tourism development: A case study of traditional funerals at Abono in the Lake Bosomtwe basin of Ashanti Region, Ghana.

• Main Authors: Thomas Yeboah, Charles Afram Snr, Ahmed Kulega, Alexander Baidoo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: AfricaJournals 2017-02-01
• Series: African Journal of Hospitality, Tourism and Leisure
• Subjects: Funeral tourism; domestic tourism; Lake Bosomtwe; Akan; mourners
• Online Access: http://www.ajhtl.com/uploads/7/1/6/3/7163688/article_33_vol_6__2__2017.pdf

Funerals, despite their sombre nature, when considered under domestic tourism development in Ghana, provide the necessary ingredients for people to learn more about their country and they additionally help to inspire a sense of national identity and unity. Yet little is known about the contribution of funerals to the development of the domestic tourism industry in Ghana. The purpose of the study is to examine the extent to which Asante’s traditional funerals contribute to the development of domestic tourism in the study area. The sample comprised of 120 household heads, including six key informants, drawn from the study area. Data were collected through questionnaires and interviews. The study found that respondents attended funerals to show their sympathy to the bereaved families in the study area. Finally, the study recommends that every effort ought to be made by Bosomtwe District Assembly to restore the use of discarded indigenous funerary arts that are beneficial in funeral ceremonies to improve funeral attendance at Abono and thus make tourism sustainable.