Tourism will take a new dimension this year

Aburi-Konkonuru (E/R), Jan. 04, GNA - Mr. Kofi Osei Ameyaw, Deputy Minister of Tourism and Diasporan Affairs, on Friday announced that, this year, the tourism industry would take a new dimension to ensure rapid growth and wealth creation.

"2008 is a dawn of a new era for the tourism industry," he said and told staff that if by the end of the year there was no progress then they were all failures.

Mr. Osei-Ameyaw was speaking at the end of year party organized for the staff of the Ministry, Ghana Tourists Board, Ghana Tourism Development Agency, Hotel, Catering and Tourism Training Institute and some private sector tourism practitioners at the Konkonuru village in Aburi. The Deputy Minister, the Minister, the Special Assistant, the Chief Director and other directors joined the staff to participate in football matches, tug of war, sack race, dancing competition and other games amidst music and dancing.

Mr Osei-Ameyaw said the end of year get-together was organized every year to enable them to review how they do things and how they could improve on the present situation. "Let's put our ideas and resources together and leave the petty squabbles and bring all hands on deck to move the Ministry forward," he said.

Mr. Stephen Asamoah-Boateng, sector Minister reminded the staff about the forthcoming Ghana CAN 2008 football tournament and said it was a tourism event and practitioners should do their best to provide quality services.

He lauded the support he had received so far from the staff and said there was a lot more to be done. The Minister and his Deputy donated GH=A2 3,000 to the welfare association to motivate the workers to work harder this year.