Nhyiaeso (Ash), Aug. 06, GNA – African Travel and Tourism Association (ATTA)-Ghana, a network of key players in the tourism industry, has been launched in Kumasi to encourage investment into the sector.
The Association aims to help push the country’s ambition to
become the preferred tourism destination in sub-Saharan Africa to enhance
job and wealth creation.
It would also serve as a platform to creating synergy among players in the industry to improve facilities and increase tourism business exposure.
Mr Ahmed Naaman, a Founding Member of ATTA-Ghana, said despite
the challenges and shock to the industry, following the
COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, tourism still had the potential to
contribute significantly to Ghana’s economic growth.
He commended the government for coming out with a
stimulus package to cushion activities and operations of tourism
enterprises.
He asked stakeholders to take advantage of the package to improve
their businesses and also sustain their livelihoods.
Mr Naaman described ATTA-Ghana as “an Association with a
pan-African vision”, whose activities aimed at demonstrating to the
the outside world, the continent’s rich tourism diversity.
He called on the members to be actively involved in advancing the
cause of the Association.
Mr Peter Achampong, the Ashanti Regional Manager of Ghana
Tourism Authority (GTA), lauded players in the tourism industry for
standing firm in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The future is not gloomy, but bright,” he noted, stressing that
the recent easing of some restrictions on tourism activities in the
country was a step in the right direction.
It would, amongst others, help to revive domestic tourism to
generate revenue for the country, he said.
Mr Achampong asked operators of hospitality facilities to ensure
strict adherence to the COVID-19 safety protocols to protect
their staff and the public.
As part of the programme, an interim Executive Council, with the
responsibility to coordinate activities of ATTA-Ghana was
inaugurated.
It has Mr Emmanuel Boateng as President, Mrs Selina Boampong,
Financial Secretary, Mr Christian Nyarko, Organizer, and Mr Eric
Apraku Gyamfi, in-charge of Membership Drive, and Mr Charles
Kusi Appiah-Kubi, the Executive Secretary.
In an inaugural address, Mr George H.T. Nana Kankam, the GTA
acting Director in-charge of Policy, Planning, Monitoring and
Evaluation, advised the members to work together to achieve the
objectives of the Association.
