The Ministry of Tourism’s effort to promote domestic tourism is gaining momentum as promotional activities are yielding to good results, Mr Alphonse Kumaza, a tourism officer at the Ministry told the Ghana News Agency on Sunday.
He said the project initiated by the sector Minister, Madam Akua Sena Dansua aims to promote domestic tourism with special focus on educational institutions in the country.
“So far, the schools’ excursion programme, which was started July 12, 2012 has been successfully completed for Volta, Northern and GT. Accra Regions. This is going to be continued for the remaining seven regions of Ghana,” Mr Kumaza said in Accra.
The next event of the excursion would be held for schools in the Upper West Region with visits to the Larabunga Mosque, Mystic Stone, and Mole National Park in the Northern Region on Saturday, July 28, 2012.
Mr Kumaza said the sector Minister believed domestic tourism was lagging behind because of low tourism interest and culture in Ghanaians, hence the project dubbed: ‘Promotion of Domestic Tourism Through Schools; Every Child, A Tourism Enthusiast’.
The project broadly aims to sensitise, inform and create awareness of the importance of developing and nurturing a sustainable vibrant domestic tourism among Ghanaian youth and encourage them to patronise their own unique wide range of tourism resources such as the excellent, pristine, beautiful and natural parks, coastline, historical, arts, as well as cultural traditions plus a vibrant lifestyle.
“Through this, our country’s tourism can compete favourably with those countries doing well in the sub-region in particular and outside Africa in general. That tourism income goes to all pockets makes it imperative that we promote it, for it to be able to rake-in enough revenue for community and national development,” Mr Kumaza said.
He said it was no coincidence that the Frommer Travels – a renowned international travel research institution, had listed Ghana among top 10 tourism destinations across the world to be visited in 2012.
“We must, therefore, take advantage of this opportunity and support the Minister in her resolve to change the face and dynamics of domestic tourism in Ghana.
“It is expected that as we appreciate our attractions and patronize them, we will as well as be ready to preserve and clean these tourism sites to be enjoyed by ourselves and the inbound tourists.”
Source: GNA