Residents’ Perception of Host-Guest Interaction about Kwahu Easter Festival (KEF) As Festival Tourism.

Abstract

In Ghana, Kwahu Easter Festival (FEK) is one of the festivals different from each other in their meaning and history. The study examines the residents’ awareness of host-guest interaction about KEF as festival tourism by using Doxey’s Irridex Framework. Primary data was sourced from 110 local residents by using questionnaires and convenience sampling technique. The results of the study revealed that the paragliding recreational activity has become so famous and has even become a tourism sign post for KEF in Ghana. It was also observed that indecent dressing and promiscuity ranked as the worse negative behaviour during KEF. Majority of the respondents perceived that there were more street carnivals during KEF instead of using the festival to settle family disputes in various towns/villages as it was the original ancestral way of festival celebration. Interestingly, among the 110 respondents, “Antagonism” was rather turned round from “hostility towards tourists” to “hosting the tourists” in the community. It is recommended that since the community members are friendly towards tourism activities, GTA and tour operators in Ghana should take full advantage and advertise the tourism potential in the community and use such as part of tour packages. To restore the original ancestral idea of organizing KEF, in the course of the celebration one day should be declared as “Family Day” to enable families and clans to gather to settle disputes.