NATIONAL: Tourism industry sustains high performance


Tourism Minister, Zita Okaikoi

Ghana has been adjudged the topmost cultural destination in Africa, as it receives the largest number of tourists who visit Africa for cultural purposes ranking amonst the top tourism destinations in Africa.

There is an increasing evidence that Ghana is the preferred conference destination in Africa as more organisations choose Ghana for their conferences.

Statistics also show that other West African nationals prefer to do business in Ghana, which is evidenced in the increasing number of airline services in the country.

Giving a breakdown of the statistics at the tourism stand to mark the end of the ongoing Ghana Policy Fair in Accra, the Minister of Tourism, Mrs. Zita Okaikoi said Ghana had strong cultural and historic links with the United States of America and Europe.

To meet the needs of the demanding market, the minister said the ministry had developed targeted programmes and events some of which include; the Joseph Project (Akwaaba Anyemi), the Hnag and Paragliding Festival and the Regatta.

Mrs. Okakoi explained that the Joseph Project aims at making Ghana the gateway to Africa for the over 40 million Africans in the diaspora.

She said the paragliding festival held in the Eastern Region had gained the paricipation of over 26 international gliders and attracted over 7,000 people.

She said there was also the issue of the Regatta which is organised in Elmina in the Central Region for the fisher folks, creating an opportunity to develop domstic tourism.

Touching on easy accessibility to Ghana, the minister said Ghana’s
accessibility had improved with airline seat availability increasing and airfares reducing; crediting the success to the "Gateway Programme" that had allowed more airlines and cruise liners use Ghana’s ports as
"liberalized skies" and "free ports" respectively.

Mrs. Okaikoi said the sector also enjoys a political and social advantage "beacuase Ghana’s political and social stability remain favourable".

Ghanadistricts.com/PF