The promotion of digitalisation has the potential to accelerate inclusive tourism growth, Chief of Staff at the Office of the President, Akosua Frema Osei-Opare, has stated.
She said this at a two-day Presidential Summit on Tourism under the theme: ‘Rethinking tourism for economic growth and job creation’ as part of the agenda to revive the tourism sector to serve as a source of employment and income generation for the country.
“To achieve inclusive tourism growth, we must ensure that the benefits of tourism are shared equitably. This requires us to actively involve local communities in the tourism value chain by empowering them to participate in the sector, whether through artisanal crafts, cultural performances, or community-based tourism initiatives, we can propel local economic development, create sustainable economic opportunities and reduce regional disparities,” she said.
Mrs. Osei-Opare added that the best way to achieve tourism growth is by encouraging and incorporating local inhabitants to contribute their quota through various skills to help minimize inequalities among local communities.
“Communities must of necessity have some financial share of the proceeds from tourism ventures. Investment in education and skills development or tourism forms part of a vital component of harnessing our cultural assets for inclusive tourism,” she noted.
She went ahead to caution tourism practitioners on the need to invest in training programmes in order to equip themselves with the necessary skills to excel in tourism related professions.
Mrs. Osei-Opare also stated that by nurturing a skilled workforce, “we can enhance the quality of tourism services and offer unique experiences that sets us apart in the global market”.
She called on the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture and the Ghana Tourism Authority to promote the Visit Ghana App to become one of the best apps contributing to the growth of the sector and the country as a whole.
“I have monitored the Visit Ghana app, whilst it is a good site, I urge the ministry and its agency, the Ghana tourism authority to invest more in marketing it for it to become the one stop shop that is required for our country. I also urge stakeholders and practitioners to embrace e-commerce, digital payment and smart tourism initiatives so that we ensure that tourism benefits the country, especially in the remote areas,” she said.
Speaking on the theme ‘Building synergy; tourism, arts and culture’, the Deputy Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mark Okraku-Mantey stated that: “We must provide unwavering support for artists, artisans and cultural practitioners, empowering them to preserve and showcase our rich heritage through strategic investment in infrastructure, education and capacity building”.
