Publicity critical to tourism development – Minister

The Ghana Tourism Authority has launched a magazine “Tourism Ghana” as part of activities to promote the tourism industry in the international arena.

The magazine will also be used in their publicity drive as part of efforts by the Authority to showcase Ghana’s tourism potentials to the rest of the world.

Ms Akua Sena Dansua, the Minister of Tourism who launched the magazine together with Mr Koku Anyidoho, Director of Communications at the Presidency, and other top officials in the Tourism industry, said publicity was a critical tool for the development of the tourism industry.

“However, publicity is expensive and we are not able to do enough, this magazine “Tourism Ghana” will fill the void,” she said.

The magazine, which has a glossy look with pictures of hotels in Ghana and other tourists’ attractions and comments of some tourists on Ghana, also describes Ghana’s night life, cultures and other tourism products.

Ms Dansua said the magazine was an important drive in the marketing and promotion of the tourism industry and urged airlines to adopt it as their in-flight magazine.

The Ghana Tourism Authority is also using social media networks such as Youtube, Facebook and Twitter to further enhance their promotion and marketing programmes.

Mr Anyidoho, who represented President John Evans Atta Mills, said the government was committed to see the tourism industry grow and develop, saying, “We believe that tourism is part of the tools to use to achieve the Better Ghana agenda.”

Mr Bruce Potter, Managing Director of Holiday Inn Hotel who hosted the event, described the launch of the magazine as a new partnership between the public and private sector.

“This magazine, which is the official international publication on Ghana’s tourism, will showcase what we have in Ghana,” he said and added that it would also add to the promotion drive of Ghana’s tourism.

Mr Potter said Ghana had a real taste of what West Africa had to offer in terms of tourism.

The Ghana Tourism Authority was established in May following an act of Parliament that passed the Tourism Bill into law. The Authority replaces the then Ghana Tourists Board.

Source: GNA