Tourism is the fastest growing industry worldwide says Botswana Hon. Consul in Ghana
The first ever kids tourism fun fair was held at the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission School Park, Accra, on Saturday December 19. His Excellency Hon. Thomas Okyere, Honorary Consul of Botswana was the Guest Speaker at the function which was attended by hundreds of children who took part in cultural singing, dancing and heard speeches of experienced elders. Below is the full speech of H.E Thomas Ochere the Honorary Consul of Botswana in Ghana.
Distinguished guests gathered this morning, respected Principals, Teachers, Parents and my dear friends. On this occasion, I would like to share with you some few thoughts on the theme“kids in Tourism” in Ghana. Our country is full of attractive historical places. People from all walks of life come to see beautiful places in Ghana and love to travel here. They go back to their countries and write stories in their own words about the historical places of Ghana.
Because of technological advancement today, Tourism has become one of the fastest growing industries worldwide. It benefits a lot in many ways. It positively affects the economic growth and development of a country, particularly in hospitality industry –hotel accommodation, transportation, art, entertainment, wildlife, parks, etc.
It’s a fact that Tourism practice in Ghana is a key source of new jobs to many people and also ranks as the fourth foreign exchange earner. Besides, it improves the living standards of the local people, especially those in the heavily visited tourist destinations. The domestic economy benefits immensely from transactions: for instances basic commodities get good patronage and prices may be adjusted, during peak traffic seasons, by the local people for the visiting tourists.
Generally, Travel and tourism is expected to create 128, 000 jobs i.e. 2.3% of our total employment. The World Economic Forum in 2010 showed that Ghana was rated 108th out of 139 countries as the world favorite tourism destination while Forbes magazine reported Ghana as the 11th most friendly country in the world. This assertion was based on a survey in 2010 involving a cross section of world travelers.
Ladies and gentlemen, the purpose of our gathering here is to celebrate the laudable initiative, courtesy the “Melshe Travels and Kids In Tourism”: an opportunity to examine closely the vision which intends to bring different schools under one umbrella to foster education and knowledge building in the creation of tourism and cultural resources. Thereby,deepen the understanding and enthusiasm of our youth in tourism related activities. To this Melshe deserves great commendation. Indeed this promotes tourism!
Tourism helps us sell Ghana; helps contribute to the economic growth and helps drive investment. Travel has always been an aspiration and ambition; curiosity, self-improvement and discovering something new which people would always cherish.
If you teach a kid to earn a living honorably, he or she will become a good man or woman. Parents should invest in their ward by taking travels with them. There are so many areas that are untapped in the tourism industries which parents could guide their wards in venturing into these areas.
Excursions and bringing schools togetheras we are doing today give kids with their parents, a common platform for interactions with other kids and also parents learning to know their kids better.
There is the need for these kids to benefit from tourism, need for families to take vacations need for kids and schools to tour cultural impact, innovation and development, employment for the rural and local folks. There are so many areas to be looked at in Ghana.
Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, it has been a known fact that kids who are very exposed by travels and tourism become more expressive, responsible and adventurous and well-rounded adults.There are many attractions close to us wherever we might find ourselves; all we need to do is look or ask. Parents can take advantage and take their wards during vacations and also their leisure times.
Family trips help to educate and deliver a mix of adventure and education that’s so much fun they won’t even realize they are learning something the whole time. They get pen pals and start their network building at a very early stage because they get to meet and interact with other kids from around the world who are close to their age and share common interest.
Let’s make sure our kids make a positive choice to venture into the field of tourism and we need to make sure committed visionary people embrace and service our most important industry. Tourismis keyto national development so let’s treat it as such. If tourism fails then we have all failed. If tourist don’t come in our economy gets affected.
I urge all of you to see it as an opportunity to reflect on our economy and social future and take stock of the central role that Tourism plays. I also encourage parents to step out to educate, train and equip themselves and their children to be part of that future.
SOURCE:
Alhaji Alhasan Abdulai, Executive Director
EANFOWORLD FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
P.O.BOX 17070AN 233244370345/23327483710/ 233208844791
abdulai.alhasan@gmail.com /eanfoworld@yahoo.com