Tourism Raked US$1.3 Billion In 2008 - Minister

An estimated 1.3 billion US dollars was realise from the tourism sector last year, thus making it the fourth highest foreign exchange earner after gold, cocoa and remittances from Ghanaian residents abroad.

Also, a total of 232,883 jobs were directly or indirectly created by the sector in the same year which represented 13 per cent growth over 2007's record.

Mrs Juliana Azumah-Mensah, Minister for Tourism disclosed this yesterday when she was speaking at the inauguration of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Tourism, noting that when well planned, tourism can be a viable tool for the conservation of the environment and the preservation of local cultures.

"It can also induce both the central and the local governments to make infrastructure improvements such as better water and sewage systems, roads, electricity and telephone in the host communities," she added.

Mrs Azuma-Mensah pointed out that for the past six decades, tourism has experienced continuous growth and diversification to become one of the largest and fastest growing economic sectors in the world.

She said, according to the United Nations Tourism Organisation, the sector has demonstrated enormous scope to contribute to the poverty reduction in the world, especially in third world countries.

"In 2007, it generated 260 billion US dollars more in foreign exchange earnings for poor countries," she added.

Mrs Azumah-Mensah said, the 23 member committee drawn from all the Ministries will serve as an advisory and decision-making body to the Ministry of Tourism and the implementation of its policies.

The Minister, who is the chairperson for the committee noted that the committee will also serve as a platform for effective collaboration between the Ministry of Tourism and other Ministries, Departments and Agencies.

In an open forum, the members called for the inclusion of technical people on the board to offer the needed advice, promote internal tourism and implement policies drawn for the tourism sector.

Mrs Bridget Katsriku, Chief Director of the Ministry of Tourism, noted that the committee has been in existence for the past eight years but was ineffective because most of the members were of junior ranks and therefore could not help implement decisions taken at meetings. "Now that we have directors, chief directors and even Deputy Ministers on the committee, we hope decisions taken will see the light of day," she said.

Source: GNA