Tourism raked in $US1.3 in 2008 - Minister

Accra, April 29, GNA - An estimated 1.3 billion US dollars was realized 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, said Mrs. Juliana Azumah Mensah, Minister of Tourism. Speaking on Wednesday at the inauguration of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Tourism, she noted that when well planned, tourism could be a viable tool for the conservation of the environment and the preservation of local cultures.

"It could 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," the Minister added.

Mrs Azuma Mensah noted that for the past six decades, tourism had 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 Organization, the sector had demonstrated enormous scope to contribute to the poverty reduction in the world especially in third world countries. "In 2007, it generated more that 260 billion US dollars in foreign exchange earnings for poor countries," she added.

Mrs Azumah Mehsan said the 23 member committee drawn from all the ministries would 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 would 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 had 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.