Michelle Afrifah
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Contact details
Email: michelle.afrifah@kcl.ac.uk
Research
PhD title: Exploring the Socio-economic impact of African American tourists on Southern Ghana
Research in the field of Diasporan relations stemmed from working in the government sector for the Ghana Ministry of Tourism. The study is self explanatory and seeks to explore the degree of socio-economic impact of African American tourists on Southern Ghana and particularly in areas within distance of designated heritage site zones. Emphasis on the sociological interplay within the Diasporan field will highlight relevant impacts on local development and social security.
The Ghana tourism sector has gone to considerable lengths to market its Heritage tourism sector with particular interest geared at the African American tourist market. The resultant effects on the recipients of that target group, be it in terms of investment, remittances or cultural transfusions requires in depth analysis as a justification for government’s on going efforts for prioritising in the area of Diasporan relations. This research study plans contribute to the knowledge of the controversial rapport that exists between continental Africans and Diasporan Africans.
Research in the field of Diasporan relations stemmed from working in the government sector for the Ghana Ministry of Tourism. The study is self explanatory and seeks to explore the degree of socio-economic impact of African American tourists on Southern Ghana and particularly in areas within distance of designated heritage site zones. Emphasis on the sociological interplay within the Diasporan field will highlight relevant impacts on local development and social security.
The Ghana tourism sector has gone to considerable lengths to market its Heritage tourism sector with particular interest geared at the African American tourist market. The resultant effects on the recipients of that target group, be it in terms of investment, remittances or cultural transfusions requires in depth analysis as a justification for government’s on going efforts for prioritising in the area of Diasporan relations. This research study plans contribute to the knowledge of the controversial rapport that exists between continental Africans and Diasporan Africans.
Supervisor
Dr Debby Potts and Dr Kate Maclean
Biography
Michelle was born in Kumasi, Ghana. She has a varied background which not only includes tourism-related endeavours but also music, art and design. She studied fine arts at university and has a BFA degree, after which she was appointed a Teaching Assistant for a year at the University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Ghana.
She has also worked with the Ghana Ministry of Tourism and Diasporan Relations as a research assistant and with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) on a Tourism development project aimed at strengthening public private partnership amongst tourism stakeholders in Ghana. Michelle then completed her Masters in Tourism, Development and Policy at the Univeristy of Exeter in Devon in 2006. Her Master’s thesis explored Paranormal Tourism and examined the phenomenon of ghost tours (yes, ghost tours!) in London . She is now at Kings College as a PhD student.
She has also worked with the Ghana Ministry of Tourism and Diasporan Relations as a research assistant and with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) on a Tourism development project aimed at strengthening public private partnership amongst tourism stakeholders in Ghana. Michelle then completed her Masters in Tourism, Development and Policy at the Univeristy of Exeter in Devon in 2006. Her Master’s thesis explored Paranormal Tourism and examined the phenomenon of ghost tours (yes, ghost tours!) in London . She is now at Kings College as a PhD student.
