Accra, Sept. 21, GNA - Rural ecotourism destinations are important elements in the promotion of Ghana's tourism potentials, Ms Urji Ebba, Director of the Ghana Rural Ecotourism and Travel Office (GREET) project, said on Monday. The GREET office has therefore set up efficient and reliable booking and advance payment systems covering 14 community-based rural ecotourism destinations in Ghana to make it easier for tourists to visit sites in rural areas.

GREET is a community-based and private sector driven organization that supports continued growth of rural tourism destinations in Ghana to enable the community to gain economically from tourism through the establishment of a world class tourism information centre. Ms Ebba told the GNA that her office was seriously preparing to ensure the availability of information during the celebration of the United Nations World Tourism Day.

World Tourism Day is celebrated every September 27. Ghana is hosting this year's event on the theme: "Tourism celebrating Diversity." As a first step towards the preparation to the World Tourism Day celebration, GREET has started an accreditation process of all rural tourism sites as well as licensing of rural accommodation enterprises in collaboration with the Ghana Tourist Board (GTB) Some of the sites involved in this project include the Boabeng-Fiema Monkey Sanctuary, Tano Boase sacred caves in the Brong-Ahafo Region; Wli Waterfalls and Tafi-Atome Monkey Sanctuary in the Volta Region, Paga crocodile pond, the Nania slave camp and Sirigu pottery industry in the Upper East among many others destinations. Ms Ebba expressed hope that Ghana's hosting of the World Tourism Day coupled with effective marketing of tourism sites in Ghana could help enhance the country's profile as an international tourism destination.