President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo says Ghana is striving to lure two million international visitors by 2025, resulting in a $4 billion spending boost.
This is part of government’s efforts in making tourism a leading contributor to the country’s economic progress.
At a maiden summit on Tourism held at the Peduase Presidential Lodge in the Eastern Region on Tuesday May 30, President Akufo-Addo revealed directing the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture to intensify its marketing efforts, policies, and initiatives in order to reach this objective.
The two-day summit, themed “Rethinking Tourism for Economic Growth and Job Creation,” was convened at the President’s request and attracted representatives from all government agencies and departments, as well as private sector stakeholders in the tourism industry, for a brainstorming session.
According to the President, international arrivals saw an 81% growth in 2022 as compared to 2021, while domestic tourism grew to a million in 2023 from 600,000 in 2021.
This growth in tourism he notes, has positively impacted various sectors of the economy, including employment, agriculture, tour operations, transportation, handicrafts, music, and art, among others.
According to the President, the country is “building a thriving tourism economy, with many tourism sites currently undergoing improvements.”
“We are determined to build a tourism economy where hospitality, arts and culture are used as tools to spur economic development,” he added.
To him, the country must preserve what it has and Ghanaians must see themselves the guardians of Ghana’s natural wonders to safeguard tourism for future generations.
He adds that it will also “strengthen our commitment to environmental conservation, combat climate change and promote eco-friendly practices in the tourism industry.”
He also implored the sector to create a comprehensive framework that facilitates dialogue, cooperation and innovation.
Together we can develop sustainable tourism models, empower domestic entrepreneurs and ensure that the benefits of tourism reach every corner of our beloved country,” he added.
Akufo-Addo also tasked the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, and the Ghana Tourism Authority to continue leading the charge in building a thriving tourism economy.
The government is committed to improving tourism sites and using hospitality, arts, and culture as tools to spur economic development. The President’s vision is to build a tourism economy that will benefit all Ghanaians and contribute significantly to the country’s development.
The government is committed to improving tourism sites and using hospitality, arts, and culture as tools to spur economic development. The President’s vision is to build a tourism economy that will benefit all Ghanaians and contribute significantly to the country’s development.
Meanwhile, it is noted that President Akufo-Addo sat in for the presentation of papers, panel discussions, and questions and answers during the tourism summit, as this is considered rare among presidential correspondents from various media houses. According to a report by the World Travel and Tourism Council, it is projected that by 2033, the tourism sector will create one in every ten jobs globally.
President Akufo-Addo’s statement that the tourism sector is growing again after the lull caused by COVID-19 is supported by data from the Ghana Tourism Authority, which reported a 45% increase in tourist arrivals in the first quarter of 2021 compared to the same period in 2020.
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Source: Comfort Sweety Hayford/ATLFMNEWS
