Dr. Benjamin Appiah Osei, a Senior Lecturer in Hospitality and Tourism Studies at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), has been recognized for his outstanding contributions to the tourism industry. He has built a professional identity that bridges academia, tourism advocacy, technology, and practical industry engagement. His growing contribution to the industry has earned him three tourism awards in three consecutive years.
Dr. Osei's awards include the Digital Tourism Icon at the Ashanti Regional Tourism Awards in 2024, the Tourism Innovation & Technology Award (Individual Category) at the 25th National Tourism Awards organised by the Ghana Tourism Authority in 2025, and the Digital Tourism Icon 2026 honour at the Ashanti Regional Tourism Awards on September 18, 2026. These awards reflect his contributions to tourism technology, digital hospitality education, and community-focused learning through his Tourism & Hospitality for Everyone (TOHFE) initiative and TOHFE Learns with Dr Ben.
Dr. Osei's passion extends beyond teaching and research. Through TOHFE, he seeks to make hospitality and tourism education accessible to a wider audience. His social media platforms use short-form digital storytelling to introduce audiences to different dimensions of the industry, covering destinations, attractions, hotels, food, culture, travel concepts, tourism education, emerging technologies, and career opportunities within hospitality and tourism.
Dr. Osei's tourism advocacy also takes people beyond their screens. Through TOHFE, he has spearheaded tourism experiences and tours designed to connect participants with Ghanaian destinations, food, culture, and communities. Initiatives such as the Kumasi Street Food Tour reflect his belief that tourism education can happen through direct experience — by travelling, tasting, discovering, and engaging with the stories behind Ghana’s tourism resources.
Dr. Osei's published research has examined how international tourists use social media in planning and making travel decisions about Ghana. His wider scholarship explores technology, innovation, and transformation within hospitality and tourism. He believes Ghana’s tourism industry can benefit from stronger digital engagement, innovative approaches, experiential learning, and greater public appreciation of the opportunities within the sector.
At the centre of Dr. Osei’s work is a simple but ambitious vision: to make hospitality and tourism known to all. He believes that tourism should not only be studied; it should be understood, experienced, shared, and made accessible to everyone. As technology continues to reshape tourism and hospitality, his goal is to remain part of that transformation — through research, teaching, digital education, tourism experiences, and industry engagement.
Dr. Osei's three consecutive tourism awards represent milestones in his journey. His work has been recognized by the KNUST and the Ghana Tourism Authority, among others. His commitment to making hospitality and tourism accessible to all has earned him a reputation as a leading advocate for the industry in Ghana.
Key points
- Dr. Benjamin Appiah Osei has won three consecutive tourism awards for his contributions to tourism technology, digital hospitality education, and community-focused learning.
- Dr. Osei's work focuses on making hospitality and tourism education accessible to a wider audience through digital storytelling and experiential learning.
- Dr. Osei's vision is to make hospitality and tourism known to all, and he believes that tourism should be understood, experienced, shared, and made accessible to everyone.
