GTA launches Tourism Month
The Ghana Tourism Month has been launched to highlight exciting tourist activities across the country in September.
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Spearheaded by the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) the initiative, which coincides with the World Tourism Day celebrated on September 27, is expected to boost domestic tourism as well as attract many tourists from outside the country.
This is the third time the GTA has declared the month of September as “Tourism Month”.
Activities that form part of the ‘Tourism Month’ include traditional festivals such as the Oguaa Fetu Afahye, Akwambo, Kundum, Asogli Yam Festival, Akwantutenten and the Anfoeta Yam Festival.
Others are the Annual Black Star International Film Festival, Miss Tourism Ghana, Western Music Awards, Millennium Marathon, Take-Off Party, Yenko Kwahu, Asanteman Homecoming, Calabash Colour Festival, Centre of the World Sea Cruise Urban Green Festival, Ghana Theatre Festival, Regional Festival of Arts and Culture, Ghana Fruits and Vegetable Fair and UN World Tourism Day.
‘Do Ghana’
In a speech read on his behalf, a Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mark Okraku Mantey, said the Tourism Month was a great initiative meant to promote tourism as a tool for national development.
Audience seated at the launch of the Tourism month.
He said the objective of the initiative was to create awareness of tourism with a focus on the uniqueness of the Ghanaian culture.
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Again, he said it would promote patronage of ‘Made in Ghana’ goods, and services and also boost the creative and arts industry.
“It will also showcase the unique natural peculiarities and economic endowments of the various districts and regions, with events taking place to boost investment opportunities,” he said.
According to him, the initiative also aligned with the tourism marketing campaign of “Experience Ghana, Share Ghana, See Ghana, Eat Ghana, Wear Ghana and Feel Ghana”.
Mr Mantey stressed the importance of tourism to the economic development of the country and urged the general public to support the initiatives.
“Together, these initiatives will showcase the best of Ghana, welcome visitors with open arms and make tourism a driving force for national development and peace,’ he added.
Collaboration
The Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the GTA, Ben Anane-Nsia, called for collaboration from all stakeholders, including the media to make the “Tourism Month” a success.
“Tourism is an industry that requires a lot of stakeholder collaboration. All of us must work in harmony and synchronised ways to make the initiative a success,” he said.
He, however, explained that the fact that September had been designated as a ‘Tourism Month’ did not mean tourism was not important for the rest of the years.
“This is a deliberate attempt to find some peaks in the year to promote tourism activities,” he added.
For his part, the Board Chairman of the GTA, Seth Adjei Baah, said tourism was an important industry that created enormous revenue for the country and wealth for industry players.
Writer’s email: emma.hawkson@graphic.com.gh