Corporate Social Responsibility: An Application in Tourism Development in Ghana

In 1972 UNESCO recognized 1) the Elmina Castle alias St George’s Castle located in Elmina, 2) the Fort St Jago located in Elmina, and 3) the Cape Coast Castle alias Carolsburg Castle located in Cape Coast as World Heritage Sites (slave dungeons during transatlantic slave trade). Tourism was introduced in Elmina and Cape Coast in Ghana, West Africa, as a means to poverty reduction. However, almost fifteen years later this was not achieved. A participatory approach to research revealed that lack of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) from the government, tourism intermediaries and developmental institutions was the key factor behind this failure. So far within the tourism industry no tangible areas of responsibility for sustainable tourism development were found and not even the host governments expressed concern for it. However, it could be argued that the intelligent application of [C (SR)] can lead to poverty reduction if it is practiced in a holistic, responsible, transparent and accountable manner

Building Capacities for Tourism Development and Poverty Reduction1

This paper advocates the application of building capacities for tourism development and poverty reduction in the locales of Elmina and Cape Coast in the Sub-Saharan country of Ghana in Africa. The two towns are home to three World Heritage Sites: the Elmina Castle or St George’s Castle and Fort St Jago (Elmina), and Cape Coast Castle (Cape Coast). Tourism was introduced in 1989 by the Ghanaian government with the assistance of donor agencies in an effort to bring economic and cultural sustainability to the area. Research up to now has indicated that tourism can be used as a tool of development, and poverty reduction, in developing countries, however, the social and economic benefits in the towns of Elmina and Cape Coast, are distributed unequally. It could be argued that one of the reasons is the emphasis placed on higher gross returns in foreign exchange earnings, or greater visitor numbers with little attention to maximizing net benefits to the poor communities, and without a clear strategy of how tourism growth, will contribute to poverty reduction

Rapid Situation Analysis: a hybrid, multi-methods, qualitative, participatory approach to researching tourism development phenomena

This study develops a hybrid, bottom-up approach to field research, namely Rapid Situation Analysis, and implements it in Ghana. It draws on elements from two existing participatory methodological approaches: Rapid Rural Appraisal and Participatory RuralAppraisal. The approachwas developed to suit the particular needs of investigating corporate social responsibility practices, sustainable development and poverty reduction through tourism, a fragmented sector which tends to be ambiguous and unstructured and lack cohesion (unlike, for example, agriculture or primary health care, both of which are familiar territory for Rapid Rural Appraisal and Participatory Rural Appraisal). The Rapid Situation Analysis bottom-up approach to data gathering was underpinned by supporting methods, including participant and direct observation, in-depth interviews, stakeholder focus groups and informal conversations. Moreover, the multiple methods were further enriched by the collection of visual data in the form of moving and still images. These research findings were fed back to the communities at the centre of the research

Capacity Building for a Socially Responsible Cultural Heritage Tourism Development

Cultural heritage tourism was the tool used by the government and developmental agencies for sustainable economic development and ultimately poverty reduction/alleviation and preservation of the cultural heritage in Elmina and Cape Coast, Ghana, Africa. The two castles and the fortress, - the Elmina or St Georges’ Castle, Fort St Jago (Elmina), and the Cape Coast or Carolsburg Castle (Cape Cost) - left by colonialism during the 400 year transatlantic slave trade were the focus of both cultural preservation and economic development through tourism. However, more than fifteen years later the economy does not seem to have been uplifted, benefits accrued from the tourism activity are distributed unequally and the sites are not properly preserved. A participatory approach to research indicated that was mainly due to, lack of [Corporate (Social Responsibility)] [C (SR)] identified among others in community exclusion in decision making; lack of business expertise; lack of promotion/marketing; lack of access to credit; lack of cooperation between stakeholders; weak institutions that are unable to be socially responsible and accountable to the local communities; and an inability to form partnerships and networks. Evidence suggests that the present situation might be reversed should the governmental and developmental institutions’ exercise [C (SR)] in the form of Capacity Building at four levels: social, human, physical and financial

Holding Corporate Social Responsibility to account: its applicability in tourism development

Tourism was introduced in Elmina and Cape Coast, (Ghana, Africa) home to three World Heritage Sites (slave dungeons during transatlantic slave trade) as a means to poverty reduction. However, almost fifteen years later, this was not achieved. A participatory approach to research revealed that lack of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) from the government, tourism intermediaries and developmental institutions was the key factor behind this failure. So far within the tourism industry no tangible areas of responsibility for sustainable tourism development were found and not even the host governments expressed concern for it. However, it could be argued that the intelligent application of [C (SR)] can lead to poverty reduction if it is practiced in a holistic, responsible, transparent and accountable manner

Cyprus as a winter destination. An exploratory study

Seasonal fluctuations of demand are regular in the Mediterranean islands. this could be attributed to the distinct qualities of island destinations, their vulnerability, peripherality, and isolation. this article aims to determine whether Cyprus has the geographical and governance qualities needed to address seasonality by diversifying its tourism product. An exploratory, interpretive, inductive approach to research was undertaken with key informers within the industry to investigate these issues. the findings indicate that Cyprus has the necessary geographical features to address seasonality. however, there is high dependency on small number of tour operators, air travel companies, the narrow sun-and-sea product, and governmental control, which prevents winter tourism development

Cultural Heritage, Destination Competitiveness and Sustainability Model in LDC’s: From Theory to Action A case of Ghana

This report aims at presenting the results of a WTO fieldwork undertaken in the locales of Cape Coast and Elmina (Figure 1), in the sub-Saharan country of Ghana, in West Africa during a period of five months between April –August in 2005. The overall objective of the research is to test the applicability of Ritchie & Crouch’s (2003) ‘Destination Competitiveness Model’ (Figure 2), which was specifically modified for less developed countries, in the locales of Elmina and Cape Coast in Ghana. The unique characteristic of these areas is based on their cultural heritage; they are hosting three world heritage sites, two castles and a fortress, which are left by colonialism and which functioned as slave dungeons for 400 years during the transatlantic slave trade. The overall objective will be underpinned by the following specific objectives: • Assess the relationship between the local community, national institutions and the slave fortification castles of Cape Coast Castle in Cape Coast (Picture 1), St George castle in Elmina (Picture2) and the fortress of St Jago in Elmina (Picture 3) • Provide practical guidelines on linking pro-poor tourism characteristics with physical elements (assets) of cultural histories with a focus on the role of the local community The examination of the objectives will be in the context of a pro-poor tourism framework and it will seek to: 1) Develop a working and transferable model for policy makers in order assist the marginalized and poor communities who are the traditional custodians of heritage to participate in tourism opportunities, thus replacing the potentially consumptive models of tourism (the tourism gaze) with a more equitable position (managing and developing heritage themselves); Thus ‘reducing the gap between rich and poor and between developed and developing countries’. More specifically in relation to the WTO Article 2 (‘contribute to global…research’), Article 6 (‘well coordinated added value..in the creation, dissemination and use of knowledge’). 2) Contribute towards the Millennium Development Goals (Appendix 1) via capacity building and knowledge sharing, which in turn will enable empowerment and gender equality. Recognizing thus the WTO Education Counsil Washington Declaration (October, 2003) resolution 2: ‘working together to enhance achievement of the Millennium Goals’. Finally recommendations and conclusions will be drawn for the development of ‘appropriate’ tourism in the regions of Elmina and Cape Coast and according to Ritchie (2004) model of ‘Appropriate Competitiveness for Impoverished Nations: Defining the Vision and Establishing Strategic Guidelines’ and in the context of a pro-poor framework