Finally, the wait is over. Sometimes, good things come in multiples and in quick succession 🙂 After months, years of hard work of revise-resubmit, some fruits have began to appear in December. The past three weeks have seen some publications came to full light. Now they look like proper published articles with the right elements. There are free copies of the first two article available through the links.
Over two years after it was accepted and published online (in May, 2014), my first research article has been assigned a volume and issue number.
Adu-Ampong, E. A. (2017) Divided we stand: institutional collaboration in tourism planning and development in the Central Region of Ghana Current Issues in Tourism, 20(3): 295-314
Abstract
This research is an exploratory study that examines collaboration at the institutional level in the tourism sector of the Central Region, Ghana. The research begins with a review of the key issues related to collaboration in tourism planning and development followed by an extensive exploration of three main issues related to institutional collaboration in tourism in the Central Region. The three main issues are the vision of tourism development shared among stakeholders, collaboration and coordination within the public sector and between the public and private sectors and the factors that constrain and facilitate collaboration and coordination. Using extensive interviews with key stakeholders and reviewing policy documents, the research indicates low levels of collaboration between tourism institutions both within the public sector and across the public–private sectors. This is notwithstanding a shared awareness of the benefits of collaboration among all actors. The research thus contributes interesting insights into the politics of collaboration in tourism destinations. Given tourism’s contribution to the Ghanaian economy, it is imperative that efforts are made towards improving the levels of collaboration and coordination between tourism agencies and institutions.
This other research note has also been assigned a volume and issue number:
Adu-Ampong, E. A. (2017) State of the nation address and tourism priorities in Ghana—a contextual analysis Tourism Planning & Development, 14(1): 135-138
Abstract
Tourism development tends to be seen as a largely private sector driven activity. However, especially in developing countries the state continues to wield considerable power in the governance and policy arena of tourism. Thus the priority given to the tourism sector through state policies and the statements of government officials is considered as key in shaping tourism development. This paper offers a brief analysis of the level of priority given to the tourism sector in Ghana through a contextual analysis of the President’s yearly state of the nation address given between 2010 and 2014. The findings show that while overall national [tourism] development plans are important, the policy speeches of government officials provide a glimpse into the immediate policy concerns of the state regarding tourism development. In some instances there are inconsistencies between policy objectives in national development plans and government’s policy speeches. This research therefore highlights the importance of assessing policy speeches in addition to the analysis of existing tourism development plans.
Finally, a paper I wrote with a colleague of mine (Hanaw Amin) at the Department of Urban Studies and Planning also found its way into publication.
Amin, H. M.T.M and Adu-Ampong, E. A. (2016) Challenges to urban cultural heritage conservation and management in the historic centre of Sulaimaniyah, Kurdistan-Iraq Journal of Cultural Heritage Management and Sustainable Development, 6(3): 255 – 270
Abstract
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the challenges to urban cultural heritage management conservation in the historical city of Sulaimaniyah, Kurdistan-Iraq. The paper focuses on the roles and interactions of stakeholders and the issues that confront the decision-making processes that underpin the management of historic city towns.
Design/methodology/approach – A case study methodology is utilised for this research. It involves documentary analysis and interviews with stakeholders who are part of the management of the historic city centre of Sulaimaniyah, Kurdistan-Iraq. The findings from this case study are analysed in a systematic way before being discussed in the context of the literature on urban cultural heritage management.
Findings – The research shows that although there is a shared vision of the need to preserve and conserve urban cultural heritage, the management process is a contentious one. Stakeholders have different ideas as to how to achieve conservation goals which leads to increasing conflicts among stakeholders. This situation is compounded by the limited financial resources available to local government agencies, political interference in the work of implementation agencies and the lack of capacity in local government to enforce rules and carry out conservation projects. There are also significant power differentials among stakeholders in the decision-making process which often means that local residents are excluded from the process of conserving their built urban heritage.
Practical implications – This research can help practitioners who are in charge of urban cultural heritage management in dealing with stakeholder conflicts. The paper offers insight into a number of sources of stakeholder conflicts and on ways to overcome these in the planning process.
Originality/value – The originality of research lies in the novelty of the case study area. This research highlights the issues of built heritage conservation management and planning practices in an area – Sulaimaniyah, Kurdistan-Iraq – that is geographically less represented in the extant literature. The research also identifies some of the key sources of conflict in urban heritage conservation projects and provides an insight into the roles of stakeholders in the management of smaller locally-dependent historic city centres.
So overall, some early academic Christmas presents to be thankful for. Now, if only Santa can get me some marking elves to help with the assessment marking 🙂
Emmanuel Akwasi Adu-Ampong 