The Ministry of Tourism and Modernisation of the Capital City is evolving strategies to attract one million tourists into the country yearly by 2007.
In this direction, it is intensifying both developmental and promotional activities through the streamlining of the roles and responsibilities of all key players who are required to spearhead investment in infrastructure across the country.
Mr Abubakar Siddique Boniface, the Deputy Minister of the sector, disclosed this at the launch of the third domestic tourism awareness essay competition in Ho in the Volta Region. It is aimed at creating awareness about the tourism industry among the youth.
He said it is the expectation of the ministry that all stakeholders in the industry will lend their fullest support to the development of the strategies and their implementation to ensure that tourism becomes the number one foreign exchange earner for the country in not-too-distant future.
He said Ghana abounds in natural, historical and cultural resources, which all the people must collectively help to develop and promote for both domestic and international markets, because tourism has the potential to generate more employment and income than many other sectors of the economy.
Mr Boniface said domestic tourism has the capacity to foster national cohesion and unity among Ghanaians through visits to various parts of the country and enable people to understand the socio-cultural backgrounds of fellow countrymen of different ethnic groups.
“By so doing, we are using domestic tourism to promote the elimination of ethnic conflicts, encourage inter-marriages and redistribute income from urban to the rural areas towards the alleviation of poverty”, he added.
He also announced that the ministry, in collaboration with some selected district assemblies, are constructing receptive facilities at major attraction sites in order to provide basic facilities that can be enjoyed by tourists, thereby enhancing their spending and stay when they visit such places.
The deputy minister commended the Tour Operators Union of Ghana (TOUGHA) for organising the competition and urged it to develop affordable and marketable tour packages for all identifiable groups to ensure that they visit the various sites.
The Deputy Volta Regional Minister, Kwasi Dzamesi, challenged the Ghana Tourist Board to devise means to involve schools, workplaces and villages to form tourist clubs as part of strategies to whip up interest in domestic tourism.
He announced that the region is specialising in eco-tourism and has started developing a number of sites, such as the Tafi Atome Monkey Sanctuary, and the Xavi Bird Sanctuary.
The President of TOUGHA, Nana Prempeh Annan-Bonsu, said the competition for JSS students is on the topic “What site or festival would you show a visitor to your area and why?.”
He said the first 20 students selected on merit will qualify to get awards and also visit tourist attractions in the Greater Accra and Central regions, in addition to prizes donated by major sponsors of the competition, including British Airways and Golden Tulip Hotel.
He added that Gemini Life Insurance Company (GLICO) is also sponsoring the insurance cover for the winners.
