Journalists for Tourism Advocacy (JTA), a non-profit making organisation, has been launched in Sekondi-Takoradi to promote the tourism industry for socio-economic development.
Also, it is to build a striving relationship between tourism and journalism as well as make tourism-reporting a priority for growth of the tourism industry.
Zambaga Rufai Saminu, Executive Director of JTA, at the launch explained that: “JTA is to build the capacity of journalists to understand the fundamentals and dynamics of tourism development, and identify with tourism as media practitioners”.
He noted that there are so many potentials in tourism that JTA can leverage on to promote development in the Western Region and the nation as a whole. “You need to work in tandem with relevant institutions to promote the tourism industry,” he added.
Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah, Western Regional Minister, urged journalists to use the media’s power to position and promote the tourism brand of the region and country as a whole.
He said tourism is one of the key sectors of the economy that is sustainable: “There are a lot of forts and castles in the region, which contribute about 50 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Journalists need to be active in the programmes of JTA and report the good news from the region at all times,” he said.
George Ansere, Western Regional Director of Ghana Tourism Authourity, in an address read for him urged media practitioners to liaise with the authority for relevant information and take a keen interest in promoting the region’s tourism potentials.
Nana Egya Kwamena XI, Chief of Apremdo Divisional Area, noted that: “Tourism, if it is done well, will promote goodwill for the country”. He encouraged journalist to do their best in reporting on tourism issues for the youth to identify themselves with the culture, heritage and history of the country.
