Instability in West Africa makes it unattractive to tourists

Accra, Jan 28, GNA - Ghana needs to put in extra efforts to attract more tourists because of the instability in the West Africa Sub-Region, Director General of the Universal Federation of Travel Agents Association, Mr Birger Buckman said on arrival in Accra on Wednesday. Mr Buckman, who is to be a special guest at the forthcoming Ghana Association of Travel and Tourist Agents Presidential Awards Night scheduled for January 31, was speaking to newsmen on arrival at the Kotoka international Airport.

He observed that although Ghana was peaceful, being situated amidst politically unstable countries did not augur well for her in terms of attractiveness to tourists.


Mr Buckman said there was, therefore, the need for extra efforts to be put to convincing the outside world and potential tourists that in spite of the instability in the Sub-Region Ghana was an exception. The Awards Night is under the Private Sector Initiative and would have President John Agyekum Kufuor as the Special Guest of Honour. Mr Ferdinand Ayim, Special Assistant to the Minister of Tourism, said Ghana had a culture that was responsive to modern trends and gave assurance to Mr Buckman that he would go back with good findings of the tourism potential of the country and also experience the hospitality of the Ghanaian.

Ghana Association of Travels and Tourists Agents official were at the airport to meet him.