Cape Coast Castle Still Leader

Cape Coast, - The Cape Coast Castle maintained its lead as the most patronised tourist attraction in the Central Region after registering a record visitation of 29,770 between January and December last year. Statistics released to newsmen in Cape Coast by the local office of the Midwestern University Consortium for International Activities (MUCIA), indicate that the 16th century fortress also generated its highest revenue of 39,926,150 cedis from visits over the same period. Last year's receipts represent an improvement on the 9,844,700 cedis collected in 1994 and 35,484,900 cedis in 1995.

The Elmina Castle (St George's Castle) built by the Portuguese in 1482 and located only ten kilometres from Cape Coast, attracted 22,187 visitors last year. That figure, however, represents a 2,536 drop from total patronage in 1994 (24,713) and an alarming 6,225 drop from visits recorded in 1995 (28,402). In spite of the decline in patronage, however, the Elmina Castle still managed to plough in a record revenue of 20,162,800 cedis as compared with 9,233,500 cedis in 1994 and 14,066,100 cedis collected in 1995.

But the most sensational attraction in the region today appears to be the Kakum National Park whose patronage has enjoyed a steady increase since 1992, rising from an average of only 40 visitors then, to an astounding average of 1,500 visits this year. The number of visitors to the 357 square kilometre forest reserve rose from a modest 704 in 1992 to 7,034 in 1994 and an impressive 19,011 last year.

The national park generated 4,718,290 cedis in 1994, 20,669,400 cedis in 1995 and 27,339,700 cedis in 1996. Statistics from MUCIA show the park recorded its highest patronage yet (24,287) in 1995, the same year Africa's only hanging canopy walkway was installed in the reserve. Located just 20 kilometres from Cape Coast, the Kakum National Park is home to elephants, monkeys and elusive bongo antelopes which roam among over 800 rare species of birds, butterflies, reptiles and amphibians. But beside it's vast natural endowment of plant and animal species, the presence at Kakum Park of world class receptive facilities for visitors such as the 333 metre long tree-top walkway and a multi-purpose visitor centre, have accounted for the park's status as an irresistible destination for eco-tourism.

Within just nine months of its installation in April 1995, the hanging walkway received over 10,000 visitors and in the following year (1996), attracted a total of 14,651 tourists.