By Emmanuel AKOMEA
The Executive Chairperson of Landtours Ghana Limited, Mona Boyd, has called for significant infrastructure improvements to boost the tourism industry.
The executive emphasised a need for better roads, enhanced management of tourism attractions and increased investment in the industry to elevate the quality of services and expand facilities.
Ms. Boyd highlighted challenges posed by the current state of infrastructure, particularly citing the lengthy travel time to some tourist destinations due to bad roads.
Moreover, she stressed the importance of managing tourism attractions at an international standard and urged government to update existing sites while introducing new ones.
“I would expect our tourism attractions to be managed on an international level, and I would expect government to update the old attraction sites and bring on new ones,” she said.
Speaking at a welcome dinner for the National Association of Black Social Workers in Accra, Ms. Boyd indicated tourism offers a relatively accessible avenue for generating foreign exchange and the sector holds promise for substantial economic gains. To fully leverage this potential, government must align its goals and plans with the tourism sector’s development, she noted.
She said the tourism industry has experienced a significant surge in visitor numbers within first-half of the year, adding that this surge in tourist arrivals reflects the dynamism of Ghana’s tourism industry and highlights the country’s growing appeal as a travel destination – signalling a promising trajectory for the country’s tourism economy.
“The tourism sector is doing well. In Ghana we have seen our tourist arrivals this year increase, so we are quite happy with the industry’s dynamism and the sector’s growth,” she said.
The Executive Chairperson believes that allocating resources to enhance infrastructure and elevate the quality of tourism services through investment in tourism schools is essential to providing an enriching experience for visitors.
She added that facilitating access to funding and loans for industry players is paramount to driving the expansion of tourism facilities, including constructing more hotels.
The National Association of Black Social Workers comprises people of African ancestry committed to enhancing the quality of life and empowering people of African ancestry through advocacy, human services delivery and research.
Highlighting the profound impact of their visit, president of the group Melissa Haley said the initiative represents a significant step toward fostering greater understanding and appreciation of African heritage among its members. By engaging in cultural exchanges and educational activities, they aim to deepen their connection to the continent and contribute to building bridges between communities across the globe.
She said their intention to visit the “point of no return” slave dungeons emphasises the importance of understanding the African diaspora’s history and legacy. They also plan to engage with the local community, participate in some cultural activities and make donations.
Additionally, the Association is eager to foster connections with educational institutions in Ghana, as they look forward to visiting Kwame Nkrumah University to have a lecture and meet students. They expressed gratitude for the warm reception given to them.
