Ghana to hold 2013 World Tourism Day in Western Region
The 2013 celebrations of World Tourism Day would be climaxed at Nkroful in the Western Region, birthplace of Dr Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana’s first President to give the celebration a local balance.
A statement signed by Mr Prince Boakye-Boateng, Head of Public Relations at the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts and copied to Ghana News Agency, said the choice of Nkroful is in line with the Ministry’s rotational policy.
The policy ensures that each region is given the opportunity to host the National Day celebrations in order to showcase its tourism potentials to attract investment.
The statement said there would also be regional celebrations.
It said the celebration slated for September 27, aimed at creating awareness among the international community on the social, cultural, political and economic importance of tourism.
The celebration would also seek to address the Millennium Development Goals and to highlight contributions that the tourism sector could make in meeting these goals.
“This year’s theme: ‘Tourism and Water: Protecting our common future’, which is in support of the United Nations International Year of Water Co-operation seeks to highlight the symbiotic relationship that exists between tourism and water, and the extent to which the two impact on each other.”
According to the statement, Mr Taleb Rifai, Secretary General of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation had described this year’s celebrations as a truly unique opportunity to put the spotlight on water, the most valuable human asset and resource, and on the actions needed to face up to the challenge.
He said the tourism sector is one of the largest economic sectors in the world and should take a leadership role to ensure that companies and destinations invest in adequate water management throughout the value chain.
Mr Rifai said tourism could bring benefits at the national and local community levels and support water preservation.
Some of the activities lined up for the celebrations include a football gala and stakeholders’ workshop to be held in Takoradi on September 26.
The highpoint of the celebration would be on Friday, September 27, beginning with a familiarisation tour to the Gas Processing Plant at Atuabo; to be followed by a grand durbar of the chiefs and the people of the Western Region.
There would also be a post event Ambassadorial tour for diplomats, ministers of state and parliamentarians on Saturday, September 28; ending with beach and coastal jams at the La Pleasure Beach, Accra and Half Assini, Atuabo and Axim in the Western Region on September 29.
Source: GNA