'Private sector partnership key for tourism dev’t'

Mr Joseph Appiagyei, Brong-Ahafo Regional Chief Resource Officer of Ghana Tourism Authority, has stressed the need for private sector partnership to develop the country’s tourists sites.

Mr Appiagyei made the appeal when the Authority organized a forum to mark this year’s World Tourism Day at Dandwa, a farming community in the Nkoranza South Municipality.

The celebration, on the theme: “Tourism and Community Development,” was to educate residents about the socio-economic potentials and benefits derived from tourist sites, and also to encourage the community members to develop the waterfalls in the area to improve upon their livelihoods.

Mr Appiagyei, therefore, implored private businesses, particularly, those in the tourism industry, as well as the Nkoranza Traditional Authority and the Municipal Assembly, to collaborate for the development of the local waterfalls to attract more visitors to the area.

Mr Appiagyei noted that the Dandwa waterfalls had great prospects for expansion, hence investment in its development would be very beneficial for the community.

He also advised the people to unite and support developmental projects that would be carried out at the site, saying that would be a platform to create economic opportunities for them to better their living standards.

He said the ecology and environment surrounding the waterfalls “presented a very beautiful scenery” and, therefore, assured them that the GTA would not relent in its efforts in marketing the site to the world.

Nana Yaw Aduyebo II, Chief of Dandwa, praised the youth of the community for the creation of fire belts annually around the waterfalls during the dry season to prevent bush fire devastation of the environment.