Funds for the tourism industry

Axim, (W/R) - Sept. 24, GNA - The need to establish development funds to support the tourism industry came up during a discussion between the Members of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Tourism and Trade, the Ghana Tourism Federation (GHATOF) and the Ghana Tourist Board while visiting some tourism sites in the Central and Western regions. Members agreed that there was an urgent need to set up a development fund that would be used to support tourism both in the private and public sectors due to the low budget given to the sector. The tour was organized by the Ghana Tourist Board to enhance the knowledge of the MPs on tourism and problems in the sector while creating a platform for discussion between the public and private sectors.

Mrs Stella Appenteng, President of GHATOF, said it was time the country took tourism seriously since the industry could turn the economic fortunes of the country around.

She said people saw tourism as just leisure, eating and drinking but there was more to it and that there was the need to increase funds to the tourism sector to enable private operators to market tourism well.

Mr Prince Aikins Sani, Vice President of the Tour Operators Union of Ghana, said there was a huge vacuum in terms of private sector involvement in the tourism industry even though the industry was private sector led.

He said tourism products in Ghana were still in the raw form and noted that there was lack of product development in the industry. "When you visit Kakum, after walking on the canopy walkway, what next?" he asked and said, "there is no hotel, no proper entertainment at the site."

Mr Sani said there were no places of convenient at some tourism sites and mentioned the Paga Crocodile Pond as an example. He said Paga Crocodile Pond could be a leading tourism attraction in the country because Paga is a border town ''but there is no hotel, no restaurant, no security at the place and people passing by can see the crocodiles for free.''

Mr Sani said there was the need to create a fund to support private practitioners in the industry and suggested that about 20 percent of airport tax could be used to start the fund. "Our tourist sites are still virgin," Mr Sani said. Mr Kamel Ford, Member of Parliament for Buem, called on the government to expand and improve the core mandate of the Ghana Tourist Board.

He suggested an inter-ministerial committee made up of the ministries of Transportation, Local Government, Rural Development and environment and Tourism and Diaspora Relations to look at how they could work together to improve tourism. "For instance, the Minister of Transportation can discuss with the Minister of Tourism the roads that can facilitate visits to tourist sites and include that in the budget," he said. Mr Michel Teye Nyauno, MP for Lower Manya Krobo, called for a more formal forum where all stakeholders would be brought together including sector ministers to discuss the development of tourism. 24 Sept. 07