As part of government’s  efforts to promote and attract investors into the tourism sector, the Ministry in collaboration with the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre(GIPC)   launched the International Tourism Investment Forum 2010, in Accra yesterday.

The forum, which is under the theme, ‘Ghana-time to explore,the role of the investor in the tourism sector’’,seeks to address the role of the investor in harnessing the investment potential in the tourism sector.

It is expected to bring together over 500 delegates comprising, governments officials, policy makers, corporate executives, and potential investors from both local and international markets to explore ways in which the country can improve and upgrade existing tourist facilities, services and sites as well as develop new ones and enhance the internal infrastructure to support tourism..

Launching the forum,the Deputy Minister Hon. Akyeampong, stated that  the forum among other things. is expected to deeply re-ignite, the cultural tourism, heritage tourism, recreational  tourism, adventure tourism. Sports tourism and health tourism.

The Deputy Minister pointed out that, the forum will also review the institutional structures of tourism, tourism legislation and regulations and tourism manpower planning and development, the rest includes;development of eco-tourism,the use of tourism to promote sustainable development and poverty reduction,regional cooperation in developing and marketing tourism and bring out workable suggestions for implementation

He stated that  the number of investment  opportunities includes  the construction of multi-hotel resorts across the country especially the  Brenu Beach in the Central Region, Cape Three Points area in the western Region, Lake Bosumtwi in the Ashanti Region, the Volta Lake Basin incorporating Dodi Island, Dwarf Island,Digya National Park, Melinli Peninsular, Amedzofe and Wli-Falls in the Volta Region.

Furthermore,he also hopes the forum will  contribute significantly towards placing the tourism sector in the oil and gas development plan to generate jobs and revenue for the country,adding that there is the urgent need for  inter-ministerial, agency and departmental cooperation for an integrated development of the tourism sector.

Hon.Akyeampong called for the need to encourage local Ghanaian investors to take advantage of the impending forum and strike deals with international counterparts and partners in the tourism value-chain to enable our country reap the expected benefits in the tourism industry.

T he President of Ghana Tourism Federation,Nana Kofi Adjei Twini I,called on government to expedite action on the the passage of the tourism bill which will serve as a blue print for the sector; also to seriously look into bureaucracies,delays and frustration that investors go through when they want to establish their business.

The private sector  operatives also promised to support all government policies and programmes as well as bring the needed change to fulfill our common interest to promote the tourism industry in Ghana.

Source: ISD(ASANTEWAA ASIRIFI)