News:
July 28, 2011
All is set for the Ghana Tourism Board to be transformed into the Ghana Tourism Authority as President Mills has assented to the Tourism Bill.
The law, among other goals, will empower the Authority with more regulatory powers and also establish a Tourism Fund for the development of the tourism sector.
With the passage of the bill into law, the sector ministry has initiated the process towards its implementation.
This involves the establishment of a board and management team for the authority as well as stakeholder sensitization on the collection of the levies for the tourism development fund among others.
The chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Trade, Industry and Tourism, Alhaji Amadu Sorogho told Citi News that the law is expected to insulate tourism activities from government control whilst simultaneously streamlining activities in the sector.
“As at now, most of our tourist sites and activities are scattered around and are owned by different groups. The museums, forts and castles do not fall under the ministry of tourism. So how then do we describe tourism? This law would bring all tourism activities under one authority so that they can be properly coordinated”.
Mr. Sorogho said a major investment in domestic tourism was key to a booming tourism industry which would be possible by well-coordinated and organized activities.
“A fund would be created help to expand and educate our young ones to be knowledgeable on the tourist activities concerning our own country.
“We need to start from within; we do not have to wait for foreigners to come into the county to improve our tourism”.All is set for the Ghana Tourism Board to be transformed into the Ghana Tourism Authority as President Mills has assented to the Tourism Bill.
The law, among other goals, will empower the Authority with more regulatory powers and also establish a Tourism Fund for the development of the tourism sector.
With the passage of the bill into law, the sector ministry has initiated the process towards its implementation.
This involves the establishment of a board and management team for the authority as well as stakeholder sensitization on the collection of the levies for the tourism development fund among others.
The chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Trade, Industry and Tourism, Alhaji Amadu Sorogho told Citi News that the law is expected to insulate tourism activities from government control whilst simultaneously streamlining activities in the sector.
“As at now, most of our tourist sites and activities are scattered around and are owned by different groups. The museums, forts and castles do not fall under the ministry of tourism. So how then do we describe tourism? This law would bring all tourism activities under one authority so that they can be properly coordinated”.
Mr. Sorogho said a major investment in domestic tourism was key to a booming tourism industry which would be possible by well-coordinated and organized activities.
“A fund would be created help to expand and educate our young ones to be knowledgeable on the tourist activities concerning our own country.
“We need to start from within; we do not have to wait for foreigners to come into the county to improve our tourism”.
Source: GNA