Domestic tourism needs corporate support

The Deputy Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Madam Abla Dzifa Gomashie, has encouraged corporate institutions to support government’s quest to promote domestic tourism.

According to her, a successful tourism sector would not only ensure a retention of foreign exchange but also contribute to the development of tourism infrastructure such as hotels, museums, eco parks, security, job creation and community development across the country.

Madam Gomashie made the call at the launch of the 20th anniversary celebrations of the Ghana Ports and Habours Authority (GPHA) Tourist club in Tema last Friday.

The GPHA Tourist Club, was formed in 1996 to serve as a recreational group for workers of the Authourity and further market the company’s operations.

Madam Gomashie indicated that tourism was about movement, as it afford people the opportunity to explore many of the country’s natural, historical and cultural attractions.

“By moving from region to region, we learn to appreciate each other, learn about cultural diversity, patronise goods and services from communities, and in doing so, you leave behind incomes that could go into the building of roads to connect such communities and further contribute to alleviating poverty”, she said.

Madam Gomashie was of the view that while many people were determined to see other countries, it was important they get to know Ghana first, so they could also serve as unofficial tourism marketers beyond the shore of Ghana

“If you fly out of Ghana all the time, you are only contributing to building other people’s economy and not yours”, Madam Gomashie stressed.

She said that many anthropologists who visited Ghana, often did so based on the several monuments and historical footings that were left behind in the struggle for independence and democracy.

“There are other things that we do not see in the media on a daily basis, and these are the kind of things that attracts such people to explore Ghana, and we as citizens must also use the opportunity to explore as a way of helping make the sector attractive”, she pointed out.

Madam Gomashie, however, expressed disappointment at the lack of interest on the local Ghanaian languages by many including the media.

“You cannot be advocates for tourism and not be conversant with our local languages, towns, cultural beliefs, among others”, she said.

While commending the GPHA Tourist Club, she charged other corporate institutions to form tourist clubs and explore the diversity of Ghana’s heritage.

The Director of Port at GPHA, Mr Jacob Kobla Adorkor also charged members of the club not to relent in their efforts to market the country’s potentials as they seek to explore other parts of Africa.

“There are a lot of advantages that the country stands to gain if your activities could stimulate further public interest in the operations of GPHA, and this would equally be beneficial to you as employees of the authority”, Mr Adorkor stressed

Earlier in her welcome address, the President of the Club, Ms Mercy Akonnor, indicated that the Tema and Takoradi ports beyond being an environment for hazardous work could equally serve as a place for tourism, where people could visit to have a feel of how port operations were done, the various equipment in use among others.