GHANAIANS ASKED TO PATRONIZE DOMESTIC TOURISM

A mona monkey

Ghanaians have been urged to patronize domestic tourism in order to learn about other cultures to enhance peaceful co-existence among them. 

The minister for tourism, Akua Sena Dansua made this call at a Grand Durbar at Tafi Atome Monkey Sanctuary in the Hohoe municipality of the Volta region to commemorate this year’s world tourism day on Tuesday.

According to the minister, aside the promotion of national cohesion, patronizing domestic tourism will help create jobs and grow the domestic economy which will lead to the development of the country.

This year’s celebration which is on the theme "Tourism: Linking Cultures", according to the tourism minster provide the opportunity to educate the public on the importance of tourism in fostering national unity, global understanding, cohesion and mutual respect.

Hon. Akua Sena Dansua said tourism is the 4^th foreign exchange earner and have contributed 6.2% to d country’s GDP in 2010.

She said the development of tourism need a multi-sectorial approach and therefore called on corporate Ghana, MMDAs and individuals to partner government in the development and promotion of tourism in the country.

 The chief of Tafi Atome, Togbe Dabrah V, commended government for commemorating such an important and international day in their community and appealed for the construction of the road leading to the community and the provision of boreholes to alleviate the water situation in the area as well as the provision of educational infrastructure.

On his part, the Volta regional Minister, Joseph Amenowode who is also the MP for the area said the Volta region is the most important tourist destination in the world and the celebration of the world tourism day in the region is the beginning of harnessing the tourism potential for the development of the region and the country.

He also assured the people of Tafi Atome that the road to the area will be tarred and other infrastructure provided.

Thomas Aquinas Quansah, deputy minister for local government and rural development said as part of the ministry’s support for the development of tourism, all MMDAs have been asked to set aside a percentage of their internally generated and common funds for tourism development in their jurisdictions.

Earlier, the minister of tourism and Volta regional minister commissioned a renovated information centre which was sponsored by rlG communications and a footbridge constructed by the tourism ministry in the sanctuary to aid easy movement .

The United Nations set aside 27th September each year to celebrate World Tourism Day as a way of fostering awareness among the international community of the importance of tourism and its social, cultural and economic values.

As part of this year’s celebration was a tour of tourist attraction sites in the Kpando District and Hohoe Municipality including Kpando Torkor markets and Volta Lake loading site, Grotto at Agbenoxoe, Togbui Dagadu’s palace and Wli Waterfalls on Saturday September, 24.

There were also an Arts and Culture Exhibition, a Local Gastronomy (food fair), sightseeing of the monkey sanctuary and cultural performances by various cultural troupes from the Volta region during the grand durbar which was well attended by a high powered government delegation.

click link to listen to attached audio Tourism minister and Regional Minister.