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01.09.2002 Travel & Tourism

Tourism industry holds awards night

01.09.2002 LISTEN
By GNA

Mr. Kwasi Owusu-Yeboa, Volta Regional Minister on Saturday expresses concern about the slow pace of investment and growth in the tourism industry of the region.

He, therefore, urged local entrepreneurs to consider investing in the tour operating sector, which could be very rewarding like other facets of the industry.

Mr. Owusu-Yeboa was addressing stakeholders and recipients in the industry at the fifth Volta Regional Tourism awards night in Ho. A total of 15 institutions including some individuals were honoured for distinguishing themselves and their meritorious contributions to the growth and development of the tourism industry.

He said it was heart warming to see a sharp increase in the provision of hospitality and tourists related services in the region, a phenomenon, which hitherto was lacking.

The Regional Minister noted that the region could now boast of three-Star, two-Star and one-Star hotels and a good number of quality budget hotels, but

"we are yet to see any Volta-Region-based tour operating company, which is an important component of the industry". He said the region is a potential tourist haven, a "variety of legendary tourist attractions," including, its ecological, vegetation, geographical attributes, variant and distinct linguistic groups and cultures, caves, gorges, valleys, waterfalls, historical sites, mountains, games and national parks.

Mr Owusu-Yeboa reiterated that government would create the affable environment for the sustainable development, monitoring and promotion of the industry in the country, including yachting and viewing of forest flora and fauna.

"Relevant infrastructure is therefore, being developed at tourists centres, in-service-training opportunities offered for personnel to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency to international standards", he stressed.

Mr. Owusu-Yeboa commended the USAID, Peace Corps, SNV of Dutch, Mrs. Dienne Hughes, a British philanthropist, and Mr/Mrs Soden, volunteers, for their sterling contribution to the industry, especially in community-based eco-tourism in the region.

He pledged the Regional Co-ordinating Councils (RCC) support to prospective practitioners and asked those already in the business to improve on their facilities.

Mr. Martin Mireku, Acting Executive Director of the Ghana Tourist Board (GTB) entreated District Chief Executives and traditional authorities to take active interest in tourism development in their areas.

He expressed admiration for the region's tourist destinations, especially in eco-tourism, which he described as equal to none in the country. He announced that the Board would soon register and license tourism sites in the informal sector to ensure hygienic standards to boost domestic and international tourism.

Mr. Frank Koffigah, Volta Regional Manager of GTB said a holistic approach should be adopted in solving the myriads of problems that confronted the industry.

He said the event, which is a symbol of gratitude for their contribution to the development of tourism should spur practitioners on to do more.

The hotel of the year award, in the three-Star, two-Star, one-Star and Budget categories were won by Villa Cisneros Resort at Sogakope, Chances Hotel in Ho, White Dove Hotel at Dzodze and Plain View Hotel at Agbozume, respectively while Lorneh Lodge at Keta won the New Comer of the year award. Wli Waterfall won the Tourist Attraction award, Tour guide of the year award was received by Mr. Dela Fumador, of Delcom Services at Ho, while Agbenorxevi Chop Bar and White House both at Ho won the Traditional Caterer of the year and Drinking bar of the year award respectively.

There were special awards for Mrs Hughes, for being the best tourism Personality of the year, Festival of the year was received by Agotime-Kpetoe (Agbamevorza), while Liate Wote won the Community-Based Eco-Tourism Project. Peace Corps, Ghana won the NGO support for Tourism development and Hohoe District also won the Best District Initiative in Tourism development awards.

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