Ghana, Nigeria To Form Tourism Nucleus
11/13/2009 5:45:38 PM -
Ghana and Nigeria have agreed to form the nucleus of a West African tourism renaissance aimed at setting the tone for the promotion of multi-destination tours in the sub-region. This was the outcome of discussions held between Mr. Julius Debrah, the Executive Director of the Ghana Tourist Board, and Otunba Segun Runsewe, the Director General of the National Tourism Development Cooperation of Nigeria, at the on-going World Travel Market tourism fair currently taking place in London.
The two agreed that West Africa has so much to offer to the world tourism and that a collective promotional effort under the ECOWAS banner is the best way to market the region.
They agreed that even though other regions in Africa have started similar packages, a West African version wil be more attractive, given the direct product profile of tourism in the region which boasts of a population of about 240 million people.
Otunba Runsewe was full of praise for the strides Ghana has made in its tourism drive and conceded that Nigeria has a lot to learn from Ghana.
In response, Mr. Julius Debrah acknowledged that Nigeria is Ghana's biggest market in Africa and called for greater collaboration between the two countries in the area of tourism promotion.
A meeting involving Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, The Gambia and Mali, all West African countries taking part in this year's fair, was being considered at the fairgrounds last night to discuss the modalities for the multi destination tour project for the sub region.
In a related development, Ghana celebrated its day at the fairgrounds showcasing Ghanaian cuisine and other unique attributes of the country's tourism products.
In attendance were the Minister for Tourism, Mrs. Juliana Azumah-Mensah, Ghana's High Commissioner in the UK Prof. K. Danso Boafo, and other travel trade practitioners. Among the private sector operators participating in the exhibition are Sun Seekers Tours, Apstar Tours, Travel Bureau, Mibes Hospitality, M AND J Tours, Holiday Inn, the African Regent Hotel, among others.
