{
  "id": 8523919,
  "title": "Meet Dr Benjamin Appiah Osei — Ghana’s three-time tourism awards winner",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/19/meet-dr-benjamin-appiah-osei-ghanas-three-time-tourism-awards-winner",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-19T19:42:22.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
    "slug": "myjoyonline-ghana",
    "url": "https://www.myjoyonline.com/meet-dr-benjamin-appiah-osei-ghanas-three-time-tourism-awards-winner/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Dr. Benjamin Appiah Osei, a Senior Lecturer in Hospitality and Tourism Studies at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), has been recognized three times for his contributions to the tourism industry in Ghana. His dedication to making hospitality and tourism education accessible to all has earned him three prestigious awards in three consecutive years.\n\nThe Digital Tourism Icon award in 2024 was presented to Dr. Osei by the Ashanti Regional Tourism Awards, followed by the Tourism Innovation & Technology Award (Individual Category) in 2025 at the 25th National Tourism Awards organized by the Ghana Tourism Authority. He recently received the Digital Tourism Icon 2026 honour on September 18, 2026, at the same event.\n\nBeyond his academic pursuits, Dr. Osei is committed to making tourism education accessible to a wider audience through the Tourism & Hospitality for Everyone (TOHFE) initiative. Utilizing social media platforms, he employs digital storytelling to introduce audiences to various aspects of the industry, including destinations, attractions, hotels, food, culture, and career opportunities.\n\nDr. Osei's research focuses on how international tourists use social media to plan and make travel decisions about Ghana, as well as exploring technology, innovation, and transformation within hospitality and tourism. His work extends beyond the classroom, as he also spearheads tourism experiences and tours aimed at connecting participants with Ghanaian destinations, food, culture, and communities.\n\nDr. Osei envisions a future where Ghana's tourism industry benefits from stronger digital engagement, innovative approaches, experiential learning, and greater public appreciation of the opportunities within the sector. His ultimate goal is to remain at the forefront of these transformations through research, teaching, digital education, tourism experiences, and industry engagement.",
  "summary": "The KNUST academic using education, technology and digital storytelling to make hospitality and tourism accessible to all. For Dr. Benjamin Appiah Osei, tourism is more than a profession. It is a platform for education, cultural discovery, economic opportunity and human connection.",
  "key_points": [
    "Dr. Benjamin Appiah Osei wins three consecutive tourism awards in Ghana",
    "TOHFE initiative makes tourism education accessible globally",
    "Research focuses on social media's role in tourists' travel decisions"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}