Wa — The Upper West Regional capital, Wa, hosted the 2022 World Tourism Day commemoration in Ghana on Tuesday. Stakeholders joined local citizens to mark the occasion and encourage Ghanaians to visit the nation’s tourist attractions.
The annual event’s goal was to increase public awareness of the significant role that tourism plays around the world and its significant sociocultural, political, and economic effects.The Deputy Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr. Mark Okraku Mantey, said this year has been one of the best for the tourism industry because of the quick recovery from the negative effects of the Corona Virus (COVID-19) pandemic. The ceremony to commemorate the day had the theme “Rethink Tourism.”
He said that the widespread vaccination campaign that was conducted in an effort to combat the epidemic was what made the transition possible.
He said Ghana had pulled off an admirable performance that had made it the top tourist destination in the West African area and third in all of Africa.
“After the epidemic, Ghana has made major strides in the arts, tourism, and hospitality sectors, and one way Ghana may rethink tourism is through the embrace of technology to assist enhance the visitor experience,” he said.The Deputy Minister emphasized the value of tourism to the local economy and urged residents of the area as well as non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to invest more in the industry and visit the region’s numerous tourist attractions.
He declared that the Ministry of Tourism was dedicated to the development of responsible, sustainable tourism and promised the ministry’s support for regional tourism promotion.
To help lower unemployment in the nation, he urged the populace to benefit from the many jobs that tourism offers.
Dr. Hafiz Bin Salih, the regional minister, took advantage of the occasion to thank the Ministry and the Ghana Tourism Authority for organizing this year’s event in the area.
He stated that the region’s tourism industry has grown over the years and continues to draw visitors to places like the Wa Naa castle, the Gwollu slave defense wall, and the Wechiau Community Hippo Sanctuary.