Minister says investment in tourism is a key to employment

Koforidua, Aug 17, GNA - Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, the Eastern Regional Minister, has said investment in tourism was a key factor to employment generation to fulfill the government's agenda of a better Ghana.

He said the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) was taking a look at tourism facilities in the region to be able to improve upon those facilities to attract visitors.

Mr Ofosu-Ampofo therefore stressed the need for hotels facilities to run an integrated system of their services and tourist attractions.

He said this when a team from the Pentecost University College presented a project proposal for the development of the tourism industry in the region to the RCC for consideration.

Mr Ofosu-Ampofo suggested that for example as part of the integrated system, site seeing could be added to the cost of services including a ride from the hotel to the tourist destination.

He said by this tourist sites in the region would be improved to attract visitors that patronize the hotels in the region for conferences and seminars to create more job opportunities in the area.

He mentioned Akaa, Tini, Asenema, Boti and many sites in the Fanteakwa area whose potentials had not been tapped.

Prof Kwame Boasiako Oware Antwi, the Vice Rector of the College, said the project was from the marketing department and aimed at re-branding the region to the outside world.

He said the proposal was a detailed identification of all the tourist sites and potentials in the region and packages to promote them to attract visitors.

Professor Antwi noted that the project would woo investors to the region and the scale over effects would be enormous for the benefit of "buying and selling".