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Tourism is key to economic development
- Research Advisor
Accra, March. 26, GNA - Mr Owusu Amoakohene, Research
Advisor at the Ministry of Tourism and Diasporan Relations,
on Monday stressed the importance of using sustainable
tourism as a key to Ghana's economic development.
He said: "I am convinced that appropriate sustainable
tourism is the key to unlocking the wealth of Ghana even
though economic growth in the country is mostly tied to
agriculture, industry and mineral development."
In an interview with the Ghana News Agency on the potential
of tourism in Ghana in relation to the 50th anniversary
celebration of independence, Mr Amoakohene said the
prospects of tourism in Ghana were endless due to continuous
growth and expansion in the industry.
He said the foreign exchange component of tourism was huge
and could contribute to Ghana's overall development effort.
Mr Amoakohene said in 2005, 428,533 international tourists
visited Ghana. Each visitor, on average, spent 11 days while
spending 1,950 dollars for the period, thus generating about
836 million dollars during the period.
"Tourism is important in Ghana's development because Ghana
has competitive advantage in tourism over agriculture,
industry and mining. The best way to develop our economy is
to invest in tourism."
He said if Ghana could increase its tourist arrivals over
the next five years to five million at the expenditure rate
of 2,000 dollars per tourist, that would fetch 10 billion
dollars. "With current socio-economic conditions five
million visitors were achievable if we put our minds and
money to it."
Mr Amoakohene said the power of tourism lay in its ability
to generate employment in areas not directly related to the
hospitality industry like construction, small businesses and
infrastructural development.
"Ghana cannot sit back and not invest in tourism. The United
Nations World Tourism Organization acknowledges that the
industry is one of the world's fastest growing sectors.
"Consequently, its turnover is among the highest in the
global economy or even higher than those of the car and
petrol industry."
Mr Amoakohene said Ghana faced many challenges and
opportunities in transforming its natural, historical and
cultural riches into a thriving, sustainable tourism sector
that contributed to poverty alleviation and rural economic
expansion.
"The recognition of the importance of developing a
sustainable brand of tourism is the first step in realizing
its potential."
GNA
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