Tourism Minister designate predicts more tourist attractions

Ho, Jan 26, GNA - Mrs Juliana Azumah Mensah, Tourism Minister-designate on Monday indicated her resolve to see more tourists coming into the country once she took office.

She said she was fast studying her ministry to know its current position and to combine it with her experiences as a frequent traveller to make the country "tourist friendly".

Mrs Azumah Mensah, Member of Parliament (MP) for Ho-East was speaking in a telephone interview with the Ghana News Agency in Ho. She said the private sector, especially the hospitality industry, would be encouraged and assisted to provide "first class" services to tourists to firmly keep the country's reputation for hospitality. Mrs Azumah Mensah said she also intended to work towards improving tourism infrastructure and related services as well as easier access to tourism sites and locations.

She said she would fashion out programmes to boost domestic tourism and encourage frequent excursions for schoolchildren to encourage them to travel for sight-seeing.

Mrs Azumah Mensah hinted that the country's rich cultural festivals would be packaged in ways that would attract tourists. She commended President John Evans Atta Mills for the confidence reposed in her and called for collaboration from all stakeholders in the tourism industry to enhance its development.