Elmina, July 2, GNA - Mr Edwin Owusu-Mensah, the Deputy Executive Director (Operations) of the Ghana Tourist Board (GTB), on Tuesday announced that the Central Region realized GH¢554,470 from 253,557 visits to the various tourists sites in 2007.
He said GTB regatta events at Elimina for the year, contributed to the growth in revenue with an increase in the number of tourists' arrival. Mr Owusu-Mensah said this at the second regatta even to mark the celebration of "Bakatue" festival which attracted more than 120 communities along the nation's coastline.
Some of the participating groups came from James Town, Teshie and Tema in Greater Accra, and Saltpond, Takoradi, Cape Coast and Elmina in the Central Region.
Mr Owusu-Mensah said a regatta is an event "that seeks to create wealth and improve the socio-economic benefits of tourism within the coastal settlements in Ghana".
He said, in future, the regatta would be organised purely on economic basis to benefit participating communities. Nana Ato Arthur, the Central Regional Minister, appealed to Ghanaians to come together during festive seasons and bury their differences.
Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom, the flagbearer of the Conventions Peoples Party (CPP) and Member of Parliament for the area, appealed to the fishermen to always clean their environment to attract more tourists. He also appealed to aspiring parliamentarians in the Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem (KEEA) to engage in clean campaigns devoid of insults and attacks. 2 July 08
