Impacts of Paragliding Festival on The Socio-Economic Settings of Kwahu Residents in Ghana

International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume VI, Issue VI, June 2022 | ISSN 2454–6186

Impacts of Paragliding Festival on The Socio-Economic Settings of Kwahu Residents in Ghana

Aninakwah Isaac¹, Samuel Annan-Nunoo PhD², Aninakwah Enock¹, Kate Asiedua Frimpong³, Okunor Thomas^1
1Department of Geography Education, University of Education Winneba, Ghana
²Lecturer, Department of Social Science, Abetifi College of Education, Abetifi Kwahu
³Atibie Government Hospital, Atibie-Kwahu Ghana

Abstract: The paragliding festival of the Kwahu people in the Eastern Region is one of the most exciting festivities in Ghana. This is due to the fact that a multitude of people all over Ghana and abroad attends these festivities. Many socio-economic impacts are felt by the residents of the area certainly both negatives and positives. This article examined the impacts of paragliding festival on the residents of Atibie and Mpraeso in the Eastern region of Ghana. The study employed a qualitative led mixed method with 110 participants randomly and purposively selected from Atibie and Mpraeso Kwahu. Statistical Package for the Social Scientist (SPSS) version 26 was used to disaggregate and show data. To portray the data for interpretation, tables were used. The study finds socialization, entertainment, and infrastructural development as positive social impact, and positive economic impacts as employment, business linkages, and new business opportunities, income and increased land price and rent. Other negative socio-economic impacts include high crime rate, increase income disparity, increase, high price of essential commodities, and services as well as seasonality effect. The study recommended that Local cultures and native lifestyles should be preserved, and these initiatives should come from the local community itself, as they will bear the brunt of the consequences of such development. Also, Tourism Authority and other stakeholders such as the security services should be part of the event to check on all negative impacts such as crime and drug trafficking while maintaining peace, serenity and visitor interest in the event.

Keywords: Atibie, Festival, Paragliding, Socio-economic, Kwahu, Mpraeso

I. INTRODUCTION

Local communities have been involved in tourism activities since time immemorial (McIntosh et al., 1995), but their serious involvement in tourism development is only about two decades old (Brohman, 1996). Nonetheless, the participation of local communities in tourism is seen as a positive force for change, acting as a catalyst for development (Claiborne, 2010). Kreag (2001) argues that regardless of community involvement, tourism can have either a positive or negative effect on a host community, and these effects will invariably differ among communities. Thus, tourism affects local communities through economic, social, cultural, ecological, environmental, and political forces (Singh et. al, 2003). Tourism, as the fastest expanding sector of the services industry, has become a vital economic activity in the majority of countries throughout the world.

Read More