Tourism in Ghana

GTA PREPARES FOR NATIONAL CHORAL GALA ON SUNDAY

2012-02-21T09:15:00.003Z

TIGThe Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) is feverishly preparing for the National Choral Festival competition scheduled for Sunday, 26th February 2012 at the Great hall of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi.The National Choral competition will bring together 10 regional champions to compete for the best three who will represent Ghana at the first ever African Choral Festival planned for March 10th and 11th at the National Theatre, Accra and Cape Coast Castle respectively.The Regional champions are the Hospital Road SDA choir representing Northern Region, WA SDA choir- Upper West Region, Upper East Basic School Choir-Upper East Region, Philharmonic Choir- Brong-Ahafo Region, the Methodist Youth Choir-Eastern Region, Melodious Voices of Volta Choir- Volta Region, Prophetic Voices of Winneba- Central Region, Amamereso Choral Group-Ashanti Region, Western Forces Choir- Western Region and Sakumono Youth Choir representing the Greater Accra Region.The overall theme for the African Choral festival is dubbed ‘Celebrating Culture through Choral Music’’. The African Sing Aloud Choral festival which aimS at bringing together choirs from all over Africa and the rest of the world in order to provide an opportunity to perform in the spirit of friendship, and form lasting friendships.The main objective of the festival is to be an international platform for the development and propagation of Africa’s rich Choral music.SOURCE: GTA

GTA INAUGURATES TOURIST CLUB AT NANDOM

2012-02-17T12:20:00.000Z

TIGThe Upper West regional office of the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) has inaugurated a tourist club at the Nandom Senior High School.Inaugurating the club, the regional manager of GTA Mr. Henry Yuleduor admonished the youth to take interest in what is happening around them by travelling, being good tourism ambassadors and also protect the environment.Mr. Yuleduor assured the club of the Authority’s support in facilitating their tours. He added the region may have regional association of tourist clubs in future and organizes exchange programs and group travels and camps.In a related development, the authority in collaboration with Plan Ghana, International NGO and Card, a local NGO and the Ghana Education Service has instituted a youth cultural festival. The maiden event took place on the 21st of January 2012 with the youth of the region showing enthusiasm and passion it.

Express Love in a healthy and meaningful manner-Tourism Manager

2012-02-16T09:06:00.000Z

TIGTema, Feb 15, GNA, - The Tema Office of the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) on Tuesday celebrated this year’s National Chocolate Day with pupils of Manhean Methodist Primary School, where the children were presented with chocolate and other cocoa products. The Day, which is in its sixth year, was introduced as a special event on the tourism Calendar to celebrate Ghana’s Chocolate alongside Valentine Day and to promote the local consumption of chocolate, as well as other cocoa products for natural goodness and health benefits. Speaking at the function, Mrs. Gifty Kwansa, Tema Regional Manager of GTA advised Ghanaians to express their love on Valentine Day in a more healthy and meaningful manner.Mrs. Kwansa advised Ghanaians to consume more cocoa products to improve their health. Ms Janet Brakatu Addo, Headteacher of Manhean Methodist Primary said due to its healthy nature and medicinal effects, chocolate should not be taken on a particular or special occasion, but as a daily delicacy.Ms Addo used the occasion to appeal to the Ministry of education to provide the school, which was established as far back as 1966, with a Junior High School. She further appealed to the Ministry, to fence the school to prevent the constant distraction by intruders. The Cocoa Processing Company sponsored the celebration with the main and sub-themes as: “Chocolate - A Healthy Expression Of Love,” and "Showing Love To The Vulnerable” respectively.SOURCE:GNA

Museums and Monuments Board appeals for help

2012-02-15T13:10:00.000Z

TIGThe Ghana Museums and Monuments Board, on Tuesday appealed to Government to provide the Board with logistics and resources, to enable it to properly manage the country’s museums and monuments.Mr. Mahmouh Malik Saako, Upper East Regional Director of the Board, who made the call, said the body needed funds to undertake research to enable it to provide more information and documentation on the country’s history and relevant institutions.The Regional Director of the Board in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Bolgatanga, said: “more information remained untapped in the fields and communities, but the staff are constrained due to the lack of resources.”Mr Saako, who is an archeologist, stressed the need for the Board to intensify research to ensure the collection and dissemination of contemporary and historical facts about the country.He noted that “with plans to introduce the whistle blowers Act, it is imperative that information, both current and past, should be made readily available to members of the public”, to compel all Government agencies and departments to play their respective roles effectively.Mr Saako said “research findings will help Ghanaians to appreciate objects in their communities and what they have in terms of history and where they came from.”He said the Board needed funds to enable it to organise exhibitions and educational talks in schools and the general public on the country’s culture.Mr Saako expressed worry that self-styled and untrained tour guards peddled information on communities they had no adequate information about.He said the Tengzug Shrine near Tongo, the Talensi-Nabdam District capital, in the Upper East Region, attracted many tourists, and appealed to tour guards to read wide to enable them to give first hand information on the shrine and area to visitors.Mr Saako appealed to Government to help in preventing encroachment of the land reserved for the building of the Upper East Regional Board office.He said the Upper East and Upper West Regional offices of the Board used the same buildings, and explained that the Bolgatanga office handled museums and the Wa office dealt with monuments.Mr Saako appealed to Government to provide the Board with transportation and logistics to facilitate work .He advised the people to provide information and send strange materials they might find to the Board.Source: GNA

GTA Volta fete cured lepers to mark Valentine's day

2012-02-15T12:42:00.000Z

TIGHo, Feb. 14, GNA – The Volta Regional Office of the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) on Tuesday, (Valentine’s Day) feted some inmates of the Cured Lepers’ village in Ho. Mr Kwesi Mintah-Benyin, a Director at the Volta Regional Coordinating Council (VRCC), joined Mr Kwame Gyasi, GTA Volta Regional Manager, to distribute soft drinks, pastries and chocolates to the inmates, amidst singing. Valentine’s Day is dubbed “Chocolate Day” in Ghana to hype the dainty cocoa product, as a healthy, and a useful gift which also reflects affection. Mr Gyasi said the GTA picked on the Lepers Village to show compassion to the less privileged in the spirit of Valentine’s Day as against the indulgence sometimes associated with the Day. He said last year the Volta Regional Office of the GTA feted inmates of an orphanage to mark the Day.The Cured Lepers, discharged from the Ho Leprosarium are known to pitch their settlements across the street from the Polyclinic.The settlement called “Freetown” by indigenes in the area has since provided a safe haven for their inhabitants.Currently, a number of them live in quarters built for them by philanthropists, and survive on peasant farming, stipends from government and donations from well meaning individuals and organisations.In their interactions with the GTA team, the Cured Lepers asked for food donations and wards for their clinic.GNA

GTA TO CELEBRATE CHOCOFEST 2012

2012-02-09T04:40:00.000Z

TIG

Tuesday, 14th February is National Chocolate Day, a release from the Ghana Tourism Authority has said.

This year’s Celebration is under the Theme ‘’Chocolate a Healthy Expression of Love’’ with sub theme: “Showing Love to the Vulnerable’’.

The National Chocolate day in its sixth (6th) year since its introduction onto the tourism calendar has lit up the February 14 celebration.

As part of the celebrations, the release said chocolates presentation and cocoa based products will be made to vulnerable groups such as the orphanages, special schools, and mental health institutions throughout the Country by the regional heads of the Ghana Tourism Authority. There would also be organized Chocofest tours to some selected attractions.

Some selected entertainment centers throughout the country would also organize musical jams where cocoa-based products would be given to patrons as prizes.

The release said even though chocolate is regularly eaten for pleasure, there are potentially many health effects. Several studies have found chocolate to be one of the best cancer-fighting foods alongside foods like red wine, blueberries, garlic, and tea. Two ways that chocolate works as a cancer fighter is by inhibiting cell division and reducing inflammation, though research is ongoing and will probably find additional ways in which chocolate fights cancer.

Among some of the entertainment centres earmarked for the celebration are Fiesta Royal Hotel, Labadi Beach Hotel, Legacy Spot (Bawaleshie), Fridays (Sakumono), Just Here (Mile 7, Achimota), Abrantie Spot (Lapaz), Abrafi Spot (Nungua) +233 Spot (Ring Road). Traditional sponsors for the event, Produce Buying Company(PBC) Cocoa Processing Company(CPC) and Baileys have been supportive in this noble project to promote Ghana’s cocoa and its consumption.

SOURCE: GTA

GTA TO CELEBRATE CHOCOLATE DAY

2012-02-06T19:19:00.000Z

TIG

The Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) will organise this year’s National Chocolate Day slated for February 14. The day which is celebrated alongside Valentine day is to promote the local consumption of chocolate and other cocoa based products.

The National Chocolate day in its sixth (6th) year since its introduction into the Tourism calendar has lit up the February 14 celebration. This year’s Celebration is under the Theme ‘’Chocolate a Healthy Expression of Love’’ with sub theme: ‘Showing Love to the Vulnerable’’.
As part of the celebrations, chocolates presentation and cocoa based products will be made to vulnerable groups such as the orphanages, special schools, and mental health institutions throughout the Country by the regional heads of the Ghana Tourism Authority. There would also be organized Chocofest tours to some selected attractions.

Some selected entertainment centers throughout the country would also organize musical jams where cocoa-based products would be given to patrons as prizes.

Even though chocolate is regularly eaten for pleasure, there are potentially many health effects. Several studies have found chocolate to be one of the best cancer-fighting foods alongside foods like red wine, blueberries, garlic, and tea. Two ways that chocolate works as a cancer fighter is by inhibiting cell division and reducing inflammation, though research is ongoing and will probably find additional ways in which chocolate fights cancer.

SOURCE:GTA

The Ramsar Convention and the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) join forces to celebrate World Wetlands Day – Wetland Tourism: a great experience

2012-02-05T15:07:00.002Z

TIG
From the Great Barrier Reef to the Okavango Delta, the Danube Delta and many other thousands of wetlands, the human love for watery places has sustained tourism and recreation in wetlands around the world for countless decades. 2 February each year is World Wetlands Day. Ramsar’s focus on wetland tourism to celebrate this year’s World Wetlands Day (WWD) has opened the way for the Convention and UNWTO to join forces in exploring common issues and concerns and collaborate in advancing sustainable tourism development in the wetlands.

As Ramsar’s Secretary General Anada Tiéga notes: “This has been an excellent opportunity for the Ramsar Convention to take advantage of UNWTO’s expertise in the sustainable management of tourism, and we appreciate the added value they have brought to our World Wetlands Day activities promoting the wise use of wetlands.”

“Every year, millions of tourists fulfil their longing to see and experience the wonders of nature in the wetlands. Celebrating World Wetlands Day under the theme of wetland tourism offers the perfect occasion to recall the relevance of this unique natural scenery as one of tourism’s greatest assets and a fundamental cornerstone to its long-term growth, while stressing how tourism, when developed and managed in a sustainable way, can be instrumental in safeguarding it,” said UNWTO Secretary-General Taleb Rifai.

Responsible, sustainable tourism can support wetland conservation and wise use. Wetlands, their wildlife, and the human communities in and around them can benefit directly from tourism through entry fees, sale of local products, and so on. At the same time, the ‘use’ of wetlands as tourism locations comes with certain risks. The challenge is to ensure that sustainable tourism practices are being implemented and bring benefits for wetlands, their wildlife and people. As Mr. Rifai adds: “We would emphasize that tourism businesses, if well informed and prepared to adapt their operations, can certainly promote and support wetland biodiversity and the natural beauty of wetlands.”

Ramsar’s interest in tourism will not end with World Wetlands Day. The focus on wetland tourism will continue at the 11th Meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties (COP11) in July 2012, in Romania, celebrated under the theme Wetlands, Tourism and Recreation.

COP 11 will debate an important Resolution on wetlands and tourism, one that will point the way forward and express the Contracting Parties’ commitment to sound tourism practices. Mr. Anada Tiéga emphasizes that “the adoption of this Resolution will provide a formal framework for governments, NGOs and civil society for achieving sustainability in wetland tourism.”

Also at COP11, the Ramsar Secretariat, in collaboration with UNWTO, will be launching a case study-based report on tourism in and around Wetlands of International Importance, looking at the direct and indirect impacts of tourism on Ramsar Sites and other wetlands while identifying both the many opportunities and the threats that wetland tourism can bring. Research will also identify key messages for main target groups – land-use as well as wetland policy-makers, local governments, tourism developers, wetland site managers, and others.

A suite of materials have been prepared to support the celebrations of WWD around the world and inspire countries to organize tourism-focused events for this annual wetland-awareness campaign day.

The WWD materials are just the first look at wetlands and tourism, and the ‘great experience’ this can be.

The Ramsar Secretariat looks forward to hearing about World Wetlands Day activities and takes this opportunity to wish you a Happy World Wetlands Day.

SOURCE:UNWTO

PROPHETIC VOICES OF WINNEBA WINS CENTRAL REGIONAL CHORAL COMPETITION

2012-01-30T20:45:00.002Z

TIG

The Prophetic Voices of Winneba last Friday won the Central Regional version of the regional choral competition organized by the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) in preparedness for the National choral competition and the main African choral festival slated for March 9-11 2012.

The Winneba Prophetic Voices topped all after a highly competitive display from other completion choirs. They gave the audience at the Centre for National Culture (CNC) Auditorium some sterling performances amidst great tunes. They sang the compulsory song, Epraim Amu’s ‘’Yaanom Abibima’’ and two other songs.

In a related development, three other regions held their competitions to crown of the regional choral competitions. In the Volta region, the Melodious Voices of Volta Choir emerged champions, whiles in the Wa SDA Choir and the Methodist Youth Choir emerged champions of the Upper West and Eastern Regions respectively. Winners received a cash prize of GH ¢1,000 whiles the first and second runner-up took home GH ¢ 500 and GH ¢250 respectively.

Now that the regional competitions are overall is set for the ten regional champions to converge in Accra for the National Choral Competition scheduled for Feb 11 where the best three will represent Ghana at the African Choral Festival. The African Choral Festival the first of its kind on the continent will seek to bring Choral groups from Africa and the rest of the world to sing aloud. The theme for the festival will be ‘’Celebrating Culture through Choral music’’.

SOURCE: GTA
www.ghana.travel

78,691 tourists visited Cape Coast Castle in 2011 – Official

2012-01-29T12:48:00.000Z

TIG
Mr Stephen Korsah, the Principal Museum and Monument Education Officer, said 78,691 people visited the Cape Coast Castle in 2011 as compared to 11,681 in 2010, representing 11.96 per cent.

The Education Officer, who disclosed this to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an interview in Cape Coast on Thursday, said out of the last year figure, 10,231 were foreign students, 1,463 foreign children whiles14, 827 adults and 33,259 Ghanaian children also visited the castle with very important personality and Ghanaian students recording 251 and 6,979 respectively.

He expressed concern about the low patronage of the facility lately, and called on the public to visit the castle since it is one of the well-acclaimed tourists’ attraction in the world.
Mr Korsah said Ghanaian adults were charged GH¢2.00 and non-Ghanaian adults paid $7.00 or its equivalent in Ghana cedis and non-Ghanaian students paid $4.00 or its equivalent in Ghana cedis.

He said non-Ghanaian children paid $2.00 and Ghanaian students in the primary and Junior High School were charged 20p each and Senior High School students paid 30p whiles tertiary students with ID cards paid 50p.

Mr. Korsah said plans were far advanced to undertake research, documentation and programmes to train interested individuals and groups and added that participants of the training would be expected to pay GH¢200.
Source: GNA

Ghana in talks with CNN to film country’s tourism potentials

2012-01-29T12:32:00.000Z

TIG
Ghana’s Vice President John Dramani Mahama on Thursday directed, Akua Sena Dansua, Minister for Tourism to conclude arrangement with the Cable News Network (CNN) for a documentary on the tourism potentials of the country.

The Vice President in a meeting with the Minister and a team from CNN at the Castle, Osu, mentioned the potentials of the tourism sector and said if properly harnessed could move up from its current position as the country’s third largest contributor to the number one spot.

According to Mr. Mahama, Ghana was making strides in the new oil industry, which needed a credible media platform like CNN to project its potentials to attract businesses and investors across the globe.

The Vice President commended the Minister for initiating the project and gave the assurance that government would support to develop the tourism sector to its fullest potentials.

He appealed to other corporate organisations and individuals to support the initiative of the Ministry of Tourism to market Ghana at the highest platform.

Madam Dansua explained that at a World Tourism Organisation meeting held in Korea last year, it became imminent that Ghana’s tourism sector needed a boost and therefore the CNN became handy as the bigger platform to project its image.

She further explained that at another meeting held in London in November last year, the details and modalities of the discussions were laid.

“The CNN team then came down to Ghana to hold stakeholders meetings with all those who matter in the tourism business and it was very fruitful,” the Minister said.

Madam Dansua noted that the decision is to re-promote and re-market Ghana as the destination in West Africa in particular and Africa in general in terms of both political and economic stabilities.

She mentioned that with the vast experience of the Vice President as a media person and public relations acumen, the project was bound to market Ghana at the highest level.

Madam Dansua, therefore, commended the Vice President for supporting the project and pledged to work with the CNN team to ensure its success.

The CNN team comprised Reme Al-Saiegh, Vice President in charge of Europe, Middle East and Africa, Celine S. Decarlo, Account Director for Europe, Middle East and Africa and Anita Mendiratta.
Source: GNA

UNWTO urges continued tourism investment in Africa

2012-01-29T10:29:00.000Z

TIG
Speaking at the Tourism Investment Forum for Africa (INVESTOUR), UNWTO Secretary-General Taleb Rifai encouraged companies to continue investing in Africa and its growing tourism markets (Madrid, Spain, 19 January).

Africa has been one of the fastest growing tourism regions of the last decade,” said Mr. Rifai addressing Spanish investors and African tourism stakeholders at INVESTOUR. “With the right investment, tourist arrivals will continue to grow, investors will see excellent returns, jobs will be created and the entire economy will benefit.”

Speakers at the Forum echoed Mr. Rifai’s remarks, underscoring the importance of tourism to the continent in terms of its socio-economic development. Mr. Bello Bouba Maigari, Minister of Tourism and Leisure of Cameroon, spoke of how tourism projects across Central Africa were helping thousands to cross the poverty line. Mr. Nyamajeje Calleb Weggoro of the East African Community (EAC) highlighted Africa’s many tourism assets: “we have barely scrapped the surface of our potential,” he said.

Recognizing the potential of tourism in advancing developments goals, Mr. Ricardo Martínez Vázquez, Director General of Casa Africa, stressed the importance of the sector in the global cooperation agenda: “with one billion people expected to travel the world in 2012, we need to include tourism as a priority within Spanish foreign policy and cooperation actions,” he said.

INVESTOUR, now in its third year, aims to increase the visibility of Africa as a tourism destination and mobilize investment for sustainable tourism projects in the region. Over 25 African countries were represented at the Forum which included a series of presentations and debates followed by business-to-business meetings between Africa tourism companies and authorities and Spanish private sector representatives. Co-organized by UNWTO, Casa Africa and the international tourism trade fair FITUR, the 2012 edition featured the Economic Community of Central African States (CEMAC) and the East African Community (EAC) as specially invited regions.

International tourism in Africa grew from 27 million international tourist arrivals in 2000 to 50 million in 2011. International tourism receipts, a vital source of foreign exchange in the region, tripled in just one decade (from US$ 10 billion in 2000 to US$ 30 billion in 2010).

SOURCE:UNWTO

SAKUMONO YOUTH CHOIR TOPS ALL AT THE ACCRA REGIONAL CHORAL COMPETITION

2012-01-26T04:25:00.002Z

TIG

As part of the preparations towards the African Choral festival in March, the first in the series of Regional Choral Competitions organized by the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), to select winners who would represent Ghana at the International event, took place at the Movenpick Ambassador Hotel, on Saturday 21st January 2012.

The Sakumono Youth Choir emerged the Greater Accra Regional Champions. The first and second runner-up positions went to Adehyeman Sacred Choral Group and Royal Sparrows Choir Group respectively. The winning Choir received a cash prize of GH 1,000 whiles the second and third choirs received GH 500 and GH 250 respectively.

The event was highly competitive and the jury had a hard time selecting the eventual winners. The Divine Favour Choir set the ball rolling for the afternoon putting the audience in the mood for a great afternoon of authentic choral tunes. Some of the songs performed brought back old memories of Ghanaian traditional music.

Each choir had fifteen (15) minutes to sing a compulsory song; Ephraim Amu’s ‘’Yaanom Abibima’’ and three other optional compositions. It was truly an afternoon with good performances from all the participating choirs who were loudly applauded by the enthusiastic audience. Certificates of participation were presented to all the fifteen choral groups by the GTA Regional Manager, Mr.Gameli Dzordzorme.

In a related development, the Western Forces Choir, the Tanokrom Philharmonic Choir and the Amemereso Choral Group were was also crowned the champions of the Western, Brong Ahafo and the Ashanti regions respectively in their various regional competitions. The audiences at the events were excited about the return of choral music to the Ghanaian society.

The regional competitions continue with the Central Region event on Friday Jan 27, followed by the Eastern Region, Upper West Region and Volta Regions on Saturday January 28.
Source: GTA

Ghana Tourism Authority to market Ghana through music

2012-01-24T04:23:00.000Z

TIG
The Western Regional Office of the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) is promoting itself through the use of music to market the nation to the International Community.

Mr Michael Kpingbi, Acting Western Regional Manager of the GTA, said the patriotic words contained in music are convincing enough to unite people, portray a nation’s cultural heritage as well as ensure peace.

He said this when speaking at a cultural music festival in Sekondi to select the best choral group to compete at the national choral festival level in Accra in March.

He said his outfit is embarking on series of cultural choral festivals alongside it traditional duties with songs to be sung in the country’s local dialects aimed at bringing people together.

Mr Kpingbi said the effort would help attract foreigners to the country and provide an opportunity for the world to learn more about Ghanaian art, music and culture, whiles portraying out unique tourism products and services.

Some of the contents of the songs expressed gratitude to the country’s pioneers for their immense contribution to the growth of the economy and urged others to emulate them.

The Western Forties Choral group emerged the winners to represent the region at the national level, with the Wamco Voices placing second and Bethany Methodist Junior Choir coming third.
A.R.S. Choir took the fourth position while the Musama Church Choir placed fifth.

Source: GNA

UNWTO joins industry voices in support of Obama’s move to facilitate travel

2012-01-22T08:54:00.000Z

TIG
UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai, has joined industry voices in support of the decision taken by the Obama Administration to implement the necessary measures to improve visa and foreign visitor processing in order to create jobs and spur economic growth in the USA.

“It is extremely encouraging to see President Obama calling for a coordinated policy to support a prosperous and secure tourism sector in the USA and, in particular, his recognition of the need to advance travel facilitation by enhancing and expediting visa procedures,” said Mr. Rifai.

“For every job created in tourism another 1.5 jobs are created in other sectors and thus this is a key moment to support the sector. Travel facilitation is closely interlinked with tourism development and can be a vital tool to grow the tourism economy and create jobs. This objective is of particular relevance at a time in which economies are looking to stimulate their exports and economic growth but have limited capacity to use fiscal policy instruments,” he added.

As destinations worldwide look to stimulate travel demand under pressing economic conditions, UNWTO has been urging governments to consider advancing travel facilitation. Despite the strides made so far there is still much room for progress in the area of travel facilitation, namely in terms of creating better access for new and growing source markets.

Travel facilitation has been identified by UNWTO, together with industry organizations such as the World Travel &Tourism Council (WTTC), as main priority in 2012. UNWTO advises countries to make the most of information and communication technologies in improving visa application and processing formalities, as well as the timings of visa issuance.

The USA ranks first in the world in terms of international tourism receipts, with foreign exchange from tourism reaching US$ 104 billion in 2010. Its share of global international tourism earnings has nonetheless declined from 17% in 2000 to 11% in 2010, with travel restrictions following September 11 often pointed to as one of the reasons for the decline.

SOURCE:UNWTO

KAKUM NATIONAL PARK-CENTRAL REGION

2012-01-20T04:52:00.000Z

TIG

Kakum National Park is a 375 square km national park located in the Central Region of Ghana. The park was first established in 1960. It is located 33km north of Cape Coast and Elmina near the small town of Abrafo. The entire area is covered with tropical rainforest.

In the park gamekeepers are specially trained in the medical and cultural significance of the local foliage. Kakum National Park contains rare animals, including the endangered Mona-meerkat, as well as pygmy elephants, forest buffalo, civet cats, a wide array of birds, and over 500 species of butterflies.

Kakum National Park has a long series of hanging bridges at the forest canopy level known as the "Canopy Walkway." At 40 m (130 ft) height, the visitor can approach the plants and animals from a vantage point that would otherwise be inaccessible to people.

The Canopy Walkway passes over 7 bridges and runs over a length of 330 m (1,080 ft). It is secured by a series of nets and wires for safety purposes. An additional viewing platform that will allow visitors to climb into the canopy without braving the Canopy Walkway is currently under construction.

The Canopy Walkway was built by two Canadians from the city of Vancouver. The park is also 170km from the Nation’s capital Accra. It is easily accessible by both taxis and thorough fare (trotro) from the Cape Coast, and through organized tour buses. The park welcome center contains a restaurant, a Rainforest Lodge, a picnic area, a camping area, and a wildlife education center.

SOURCE:GTA

Ethiopia gunmen 'kill five foreign tourists'

2012-01-18T05:07:00.000Z

TIG
Five foreign tourists have been killed in Ethiopia in an attack by unknown gunmen, state TV reports.

The attack was carried out late on Monday in the northern Afar region of the country by gunmen who had crossed from neighbouring Eritrea, the TV said.

Two other tourists were seriously hurt and a third is said to have escaped the attack unharmed. The nationality of the victims was not given.

Afar is regarded as a haunt of both Ethiopian and Eritrean rebels.

Ethiopia and Eritrea have been bitter adversaries since their 1998-2000 border war.

Ethiopian Television (ETV) said the two injured tourists had been taken to a clinic by defence forces.

"The group of foreign tourists was attacked by gunmen late on Monday by members of a group that was trained and armed by the Eritrean government," Ethiopian government spokesman Bereket Simon told Reuters.

"It is the usual terrorist activity by the regime."

A Western diplomat also told Reuters that German nationals were among those killed, but that has not been confirmed.

However, reports in the German media said the tourists had been near the Erta Ale volcano. Eritrea has so far not commented on the attack.

Eritrea gained independence from Ethiopia in 1993 but the two countries soon became embroiled in border disputes.

SOURCE:BBC

International tourism to reach one billion in 2012

2012-01-18T04:40:00.000Z

TIG
International tourist arrivals grew by over 4% in 2011 to 980 million, according to the latest UNWTO World Tourism Barometer. With growth expected to continue in 2012, at a somewhat slower rate, international tourist arrivals are on track to reach the milestone one billion mark later this year.

International tourist arrivals grew by 4.4% in 2011 to a total 980 million, up from 939 million in 2010, in a year characterised by a stalled global economic recovery, major political changes in the Middle East and North Africa and natural disasters in Japan. By region, Europe (+6%) was the best performer, while by subregion South-America (+10%) topped the ranking. Contrary to previous years, growth was higher in advanced economies (+5.0%) than in emerging ones (+3.8%), due largely to the strong results in Europe, and the setbacks in the Middle East and North Africa.

“International tourism hit new records in 2011 despite the challenging conditions,” said UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai. “For a sector directly responsible for 5% of the world’s GDP, 6% of total exports and employing one out of every 12 people in advanced and emerging economies alike these results are encouraging, coming as they do at a time in which we urgently need levers to stimulate growth and job creation,” he added.

Europe surpasses the half billion mark in 2011

Despite persistent economic uncertainty, tourist arrivals to Europe reached 503 million in 2011, accounting for 28 million of the 41 million additional international arrivals recorded worldwide. Central and Eastern Europe and Southern Mediterranean destinations (+8% each) experienced the best results. Although part of the growth in Southern Mediterranean Europe resulted from a shift in traffic away from the Middle East and North Africa, destinations in the Mediterranean also profited from improved outbound flows from markets such as Scandinavia, Germany and the Russian Federation.

Asia and the Pacific (+6%) was up 11 million arrivals in 2011, reaching a total 216 million international tourists. South Asia and South-East Asia (both +9%) benefited from strong intraregional demand, while growth was comparatively weaker in North-East Asia (+4%) and Oceania (+0.3%), partly due to the temporary decline in the Japanese outbound market.

The Americas (+4%) saw an increase of 6 million arrivals, reaching 156 million in total. South America, up by 10% for the second consecutive year, continued to lead growth. Central America and the Caribbean (both +4%) maintained the growth rates of 2010. North America, with a 3% increase, hit the 100 million tourists mark in 2011.

Africa maintained international arrivals at 50 million, as the gain of two million by Sub-Saharan destinations (+7%) was offset by the losses in North Africa (-12%). The Middle East (-8%) lost an estimated 5 million international tourist arrivals, totalling 55 million. Nevertheless, some destinations such as Saudi Arabia, Oman and the United Arab Emirates sustained steady growth.

Receipts confirm positive trend in arrivals

Available data on international tourism receipts and expenditure for 2011 closely follows the positive trend in arrivals.

Among the top ten tourist destinations, receipts were up significantly in the USA (+12%), Spain (+9%), Hong Kong (China) (+25%) and the UK (+7%). The top spenders were led by emerging source markets – China (+38%), Russia (+21%), Brazil (+32%) and India (+32%) – followed by traditional markets, with the growth in expenditure of travelers from Germany (+4%) and the USA (+5%) above the levels of previous years.

International tourism on course to hit one billon in 2012

UNWTO forecasts international tourism to continue growing in 2012 although at a slower rate. Arrivals are expected to increase by 3% to 4%, reaching the historic one billion mark by the end of the year. Emerging economies will regain the lead with stronger growth in Asia and the Pacific and Africa (4% to 6%), followed by the Americas and Europe (2% to 4%). The Middle East (0% to +5%) is forecast to start to recover part of its losses from 2011.

These prospects are confirmed by the UNWTO Confidence Index. The 400 UNWTO Panel of Experts from around the globe, expects the tourism sector to perform positively in 2012, though somewhat weaker than last year.

Governments urged to facilitate travel

As destinations worldwide look to stimulate travel demand under pressing economic conditions, UNWTO is urging governments to consider advancing travel facilitation, an area in which in spite of the great strides made so far there is still much room for progress. UNWTO advises countries to make the most of information and communication technologies in improving visa application and processing formalities, as well as the timings of visa issuance, and to analyze the possible impact of travel facilitation in increasing their tourism economies.

“Travel facilitation is closely interlinked with tourism development and can be key in boosting demand. This area is of particular relevance in a moment in which governments are looking to stimulate economic growth but cannot make major use of fiscal incentives or public investment,” said Mr. Rifai.

SOURCE: UNWTO

SDA CHOIR WINS NORTHERN REGIONAL CHORAL COMPETITION

2012-01-17T04:56:00.000Z

TIG

As part of the preparations towards the African Choral festival in March, the first in the series of Regional Choral Competitions organized by the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), to select winners who could represent Ghana at the International event, took place at the GNAT Hall, Tamale on Tuesday Jan 10 2012.

The Hospital Road SDA Choir emerged the Northern Regional Champions. The first and second runner up positions went to the OLA Catholic Youth Choir and the Tamale Teaching Hospital Choir respectively. The winning Choir received a cash prize of GH 1,000 whiles the second and third choirs received GH 500 and GH 250 respectively.

The event was keenly contested. Each choir had twelve (12) minutes to sing the compulsory song; Ephraim Amu’s ‘’Yaanom Abibima’’ and two other compositions. It was truly an entertaining night with good performances from all the participating choirs who were loudly applauded by an enthusiastic audience which included Dr. Ken Sagoe, CEO of the Tamale Teaching Hospital.

The regional competitions continue with the Western Region event on Friday Jan 20, followed by the Greater Accra, Brong Ahafo Regions and Upper West Regions on Saturday January 20 and finally Ashanti Region on Sunday January 22 in that order.

The last round of competitions comes off on Friday Jan 27 in the Central Region while Volta, Eastern and Upper East Regions hold their events on Saturday January 28.

Source: GTA
www.ghana.travel

ASSIN MANSO SLAVE PARK & RIVER

2012-01-16T04:29:00.002Z

TIG

Assin Manso is located 40km from Cape Coast along the Cape Coast Kumasi highway. There are prominent signboards and visitor centres to be found on the east side of the highway as one enters the town. Trained tour guides are there to take visitors round.

Assin Manso was the final link in the key slave route from Northern Ghana to the South and was known to have been the largest slave market for merchants supplying slaves to the forts and castles on the coast. On arrival at Assin Manso, slaves were rested, washed, sorted and allowed to recover from their arduous journey from the hinterlands. The river where slaves washed is known as ‘’NDONKO NSUO’’ meaning Slave River or Slave Water. The stopover at Assin Manso was an economic imperative by the slave trader. By cleaning, resting and recuperating his slaves for several days or weeks at Assin Manso, he could guarantee higher price upon arrival at the trading forts and castles at the coast.

There is a visitor centre of Assin Manso and a burial ground for slaves who died there and a secluded location at the riverbank where it is reported that slaves waiting for their turn to wash in the river were changed.

Among the other relics at Assin Manso are the ancestral graves where the mortal remains of two enslaved Africans, Madam Crystal from Jamaica and Samuel Carson from the United States of America were re-interred in 1998. There is also a portrait gallery of famous persons of the emancipation process. Groups, Families and individuals can visit the place anytime.

AFRICAN CHORAL FESTIVAL TAKES SHAPE

2012-01-10T16:41:00.000Z

TIG

The First ever African Choral Festival which comes off in Accra and Cape Coast on the 10th and 11th of March respectively is gradually shaping up. The event which is under the theme ’’ Celebrating Culture through Choral Music’’ is slated for March 9-13, 2012 and will take place in the National Theatre in Accra and the Cape Coast Castle in the Central Region.

It is the first of its kind and already started generating huge interest and enthusiasm from both domestic and International choral groups.

Invited choral groups from the United States of America, Korea, and Nigeria have so far confirmed their participation. The Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) is expecting other choral groups from Equatorial Guinea, South Africa and Benin.

Preceding the March event will be the regional and the National Choral events to select the best three Ghanaian Choral groups to represent Ghana at the festival. That is to say there will be competitive regional choral festivals to select the best choirs from the each region which will subsequently converge in Accra for the National Choral Gala where the best three will be chosen to represent Ghana.

Prizes will be awarded to the best three in each region. An amount of 1000,500, ad 250 Ghana cedis will be awarded to the first, second and third winners respectively. In the light of that all interested groups should contact the regional GTA offices to register for the competition.

It is important to highlight the point that, the GTA is using the Choral Festival to provide enormous opportunities especially for private sector operators in the industry and creating a vehicle to market Ghana’s tourism potential to the outside world. By this the Authority is also creating a vehicle to market the nation’s tourism potential to the outside world. The event is also expected to bring in foreign exchange revenue since the international choral groups are expected to pay their own accommodation and other bills.

Below are the dates for the regional and the national events. The regional events begin on Jan 10-28. The National event will be held in February 11 2012.

SOURCE: GTA
www.ghana.travel

Ghana Tourism Authority prepares for African Choral Festival

2012-01-10T04:50:00.000Z

TIG
The Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) is feverishly preparing for the African Choral Festival scheduled for March 8-12, this year.

Mr Ben Ohene-Ayeh, Public Relations Manager of the Authority, said the Festival was a novelty on the tourism calendar, and noted that several African countries would be represented with more than 50 to 60 musical groups from the United States of America also participating.

He disclosed these in an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Accra, on the prospects for 2012 in the tourism sector.

Mr Ohene-Ayeh said selected Ghanaian choirs from all the 10 Regions would be represented, and expressed the hope that the African Choral Festival, the first of its kind in Ghana, would be a huge success.

Outlining other activities for the year, he said GTA was looking forward to celebrating Chocolate Day in February.

“The Paragliding Festival in Easter, a regatta in July, the Emancipation Day celebration in August and the celebration of World Tourism Day on September 27 are other activities to be
expected this year,” Mr Ohene-Ayeh said.

He said GTA would also feature major international tourism fairs to showcase Ghana’s unique historical, cultural and ecological attractions.

“Our team is currently in Holland to participate in the upcoming 42nd Vakantiebeurs, a combined consumer and trade fair for tourism which has grown to become the largest consumer holiday fair in the world,” he said.

Mr Ohene-Ayeh said Ghana’s attire, cuisine and traditional dances would also be featured during these fairs to attract potential visitors to the country.

Referring to Ghana’s listing on Frommers’ as one of the top 10 tourism destinations, he said the GTA hoped to increase tourism receipts and visitations this year.

“The GTA now has a vibrant website, a face book, YouTube, twitter, and a blog account and has received very encouraging response from many visitors,” he said.

Mr Ohene-Ayeh said 2012 had a lot of packages for tourism activities and said it would be a busy year for the tourism sector in Ghana.

Source: GNA

GTA FEATURES AT VAKANTIEBEURS, UTRECH & FITUR, MADRID

2012-01-04T21:59:00.000Z

TIG

The Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) is set to participate in the upcoming 42nd Vakantiebeurs 2012 in Utrecht Holland.

The Vakantiebeurs, which is an annual event in the Netherlands, is slated for 10-15th January 2012. This is the first of the numerous International fairs and Exhibitions that the GTA will be participating in this year to showcase Ghana’s unique historical, cultural, ecological attractions and conference facilities. Ghana’s attire, cuisine and dances will feature in the stand to attract more potential visitors.

The GTA also hopes the Authority’s participation will help encourage Dutch tour operators to highlight Ghana on their tour circuits by providing them with publicity and promotional materials and competitive tour packages on regular basis.

It is worth noting that, this fair will afford Ghana the opportunity to inform and sensitize investors about investment incentives and opportunities available in the tourism sector.

Ghana’s participation has over the years been facilitated by the Dutch Centre for Promotion of Imports from Developing Countries, CBI. It will be recalled that, from 2005 to 2008, Ghana participated at the event with support from the CBI, and the support has further extended to 2012 due to Ghana’s impressive showing at the event.

In a related development, the GTA will also participate in the Spanish International Tourism Trade Fair (FITUR) scheduled for the 18th-23rd January 2012 in Madrid, Spain. The Authority intends to market Ghana as the most preferred tourist destination in Africa to the European market.

Fitur is a meeting point for tourism professionals, where they can establish lines of action, strategies and business alliances to energize and consolidate the tourism business and the changing demands of the market.

Tourism promotion agencies, operators, hotels, travel agencies, consultants and experts in international tourism management and development will all meet in Madrid for Fitur.

Source: Ghana Tourism Authority

Beaches in Danger: 10 Disappearing Shorelines

2012-01-03T07:32:00.000Z

TIG
When seas rise, it's inevitable -- beaches disappear. Even setting climate change aside, scientists predict a 10- to 12-inch (25-30cm) rise in ocean levels by the end of this century, and for each inch the ocean rises, a beach gets on average 3¼ feet (1m) narrower. Add human interference with natural beach topography -- channel dredging, sand replacement, seawalls, jetties -- and it's a recipe for disaster. Here are 10 notable beaches in need of saving.

1.Montauk, New York

Jetties built 20 years ago to protect the beaches of posh East Hampton have prevented natural sand migration along this Atlantic coast summer resort -- leaving beachfront homes in neighboring Montauk virtually beachless, and vulnerable to the crashing waves of winter storms. Dwindling dunes from Sagaponack to Westhampton suggest the problem is widespread.

2.Miami Beach, Florida

Really a barrier island, Miami Beach has been pumping up its high-profile beach since 1976, spending millions of dollars to preserve the 10-mile-long (16km) strand lined with high-rise hotels. Years of building seawalls and "borrowing" sand from the sea floor have accelerated erosion, while frequent tropical storms make it impossible to keep sand in place. As the local sand supply runs out, Miami now must import sand from other countries.

3.Santa Barbara, California

The "American Riviera," Santa Barbara is known for its Spanish-Mediterranean architecture and well-groomed, palm-lined, white beaches. But battered by periodic El Niño events, armored with seawalls that only intensify wave action, and robbed of replenishing sediments by several upriver dams, Santa Barbara's beaches are in trouble. Goleta Beach Park has been severely reduced, and in a domino effect, Arroyo Burro Beach is following suit.

4.Waikiki Beach, Oahu, Hawaii

With seas rising all around Hawaii, beach erosion presents a challenge, especially along Honolulu's densely built-up Waikiki beach. A sensitive $2.5-million project in 2010 aimed to replenish the eroding sands of borrowed sand from offshore shoals, leaving the local sand volume unchanged and matching new sand to old. It remains to be seen whether this scheme will succeed where 2006's beach nourishment failed.

5.Cancun, Mexico

Repeatedly hit by Category 4 and 5 hurricanes over the past decade, this heavily developed resort coast has spent millions to pump sand from the sea bottom to re-create its white-sand beaches. Damage to underwater life and coral reefs aside, this fine sand has proven to erode even more quickly, as tall beachfront hotels funnel winds that used to dissipate over sand dunes.

6.Negril, Jamaica

Starting in the 1970s, a wave of resort building along Negril's beautiful Seven-Mile Beach capitalized on its glorious sand. But degraded offshore coral reefs, dredged seagrass beds, and drained wetlands left the existing sand vulnerable to wave erosion. Tropical storms periodically pummel this flat, low-lying area, and every year, natural processes have a harder time replenishing the steadily eroding beach.

7.The Holderness Coast, Northeast England

The fastest-eroding coastline in Europe is this 62km (39-mile) stretch north of the Humber Estuary, where soft clay cliffs are battered by powerful North Sea waves. Beaches at the foot of those low crumbling cliffs lose nearly 2m (6½ ft.) per year. Groynes and other man-made revetments protect the holiday sands at resort towns like Hornsea and Mappleton, but steal sand from other areas.

8.Kololi Beach, The Gambia

Mainland Africa's smallest country has only 50 miles (80km) of Atlantic shoreline, but with its economy dependent on beach resort tourism, severe coastal erosion is a grave concern. A $20-million sand replacement widened popular Kololi Beach to 100m (328 ft.), but in 2 years it had already shrunk back to 26m (85 ft.). Rising sea levels could flood the nearby capital, Banjul.

9.Pattaya Beach, Thailand

In 1952, quiet Pattaya Beach was 36m (118 ft.) wide; after a resort boom since the mid-1990s, it may be down to its last 4 or 5m (13-16 ft.). Changing wave patterns in the Gulf of Thailand no longer deposit enough sand to replenish normal tidal erosion, but the problem is exacerbated by crowds of sunbathers and jet-skiers. Beachfront businesses, crowded onto an ever-narrowing strip of sand, pile sandbags to protect their property.

10.Portsea Beach, Australia

In just a few months, as much as 15m (49 feet) was swept away from this iconic Mornington Peninsula beach, popular with scuba divers and affluent Melbourne weekenders. Locals blame the 2009 dredging of the channel into Port Phillip Bay, designed to improve shipping for the Port of Melbourne. Sandbags and piled boulders occupy the last narrow strip of beach, waiting for sands that may never return.

SOURCE:FROMMERS.COM/http://www.frommers.com/slideshow/?p=1&group=791&cat_cd=BEACH#slide

Adaklu natural attractions; potential for high revenue – Vice President

2012-01-02T20:30:00.000Z

TIG
Vice President John Dramani Mahama has observed that the newly created Adaklu District could be explored to generate substantial revenue from its natural attractions.

The Vice President made the remark in an address delivered on his behalf by Mr Alexander Asum Ahensah, Minister for Chieftaincy and Culture at a well-attended durbar to climax Glidzi Festival of the Chiefs and People of the Adaklu Traditional Area on Saturday, December 31st 2011.

He, however, expressed reservations about the people’s attitude towards the environment which became evidenced in a surging bushfire that crackled in the bushes across the street while the durbar was going on.

“Togbe Chairman, as I look at the scenic beauty of the environment here, especially the mountain, I cannot resist the temptation of thinking loudly that the tourist potential for this district is great,” Mr Mahama stated.

He envisioned the glorious spectacle of watching the Kalakpa Game Reserve from the top of the Adaklu Mountain, in the district, saying that sight could compare to that from the Table Mountain of South Africa.

The Vice President therefore asked the people to advise themselves to make their “environment attractive so that the tourists can come,” especially so when the area hosted the launch of the national Anti-Bush Fire Campaign only two weeks ago.

The blades of flames, visible from the Tsrefe JHS Park, venue of the durbar, across the streets, ebbed and rose, so frightening at one time, necessitating an announcement for owners and drivers of vehicles parked on the streets to move them away.

The theme of the festival instituted to celebrate the forbears for their gallantry in securing their present place of abode was: “Uniting for Development”.

Mr Mahama said it was gratifying to note as a new district that Adaklu appreciated the need for unity in development and noted: “The spirit of unity is most critical for, it promotes peace and engenders stability, which is definitely required for development”.

The Vice President, therefore, called on the all citizens of Adaklu to foster this spirit stating, “I believe that in a short time the fruits will be evident.”

Mr Mahama expressed the hope that the new district would meet the Electoral Commission of Ghana’s criteria to become a Constituency when all the steps had been concluded.

He said it was noteworthy that the people had selected health as a priority, announcing that government would select a health facility in the new district to be upgraded into a district hospital.

Mr Mahama said there was the need to conclude studies on the feasibility of extending water from the Kpeve Pumping Station to the area.

He said plans were afoot to address the deficit and expand facilities in educational infrastructure and other amenities in schools in the traditional area.

The Vice President said construction of the major roads in the area would have to be speeded-up, saying “we will make sure that other important roads that will facilitate movement of goods and services within the district are taken care of.”

Togbe Gbogbo Atsya V, Paramount Chief of the Adaklu Traditional Area, expressed gratitude to the government for carving the area out as a district on its own.

He said the people were steadily strengthening their bonds of unity for positive development.

Togbe Atsya expressed dismay at the bushfire across the street and warned that he would turnover those responsible and others who would be caught torching bushes to the authorities.

The durbar was characterized by long periods of cultural displays from the over 36 settlements that constitute the vast expanse of Adaklu Traditional Area.

Present were Mrs Juliana Azumah-Mensah, Minister of Women and Children’s Affairs and MP for the Area, Colonel Cyril Necku, Deputy Volta Regional Minister and Mr Kobla Adzaho, District Chief Executive (DCE) for the Adaklu-Anyigbea among others.
SOURCE:GNA

Accra beaches saw massive security presence during Boxing Day

2011-12-27T09:39:00.000Z

TIG

Beaches in Greater Accra on Boxing Day December 26, were packed with heavy security presence to ensure peace and safety among holiday merry makers.

The Ghana News Agency’s visit to popular beaches such as the Labadi Beach, La Palm Beach and Dansoman Beach saw large number of security personnel who have been deployed to ensure that beachfront owners and merrymakers adhered to law and order.

In Ghana, Boxing Day celebration over the past years had been characterized by stampedes at events and drowning at beaches largely due to the number of people who often go to swim.

Constable Patrick Tetteh Quarshie told the GNA that their presence was to aid beachfront owners to step up security in order to ensure the safety of lives and property.

He said they would do everything in their capacity to control the large number of people at the beaches to protect life and property this festive season.

Constable Quarshie called on beach authorities to always cooperate peacefully with the security forces so as to ensure a peaceful celebration.

Some merrymakers expressed happiness over the high security presence and hoped it was maintained for subsequent holidays at the beach.
Source: GNA

UNWTO and the Tour Operators’ Initiative renew their commitment toward sustainable tourism

2011-12-23T08:46:00.002Z

TIG
UNWTO and the Tour Operators’ Initiative for Sustainable Tourism Development (TOI) have renewed their commitment to work together in promoting sustainable tourism practices during the last meeting of TOI held in Madrid at the Headquarters of UNWTO, which hosts the TOI Secretariat (2 December 2011).

Founded in 2000, the TOI is a voluntary, non-profit organization for tour operators and travel companies from around the world, regardless of their size and geographical location, which together represent more than 50 million travellers.

With this Initiative, tour operators are moving towards sustainable tourism by committing themselves to the concepts of sustainable development as the core of their business activity and to working together through common activities to promote and disseminate methods and practices compatible with sustainable development.

On the occasion, TOI member companies elected a new Board of Directors chaired by Michel Lemay, Vice-President, Communications and Corporate Affairs and Chief Brand Officer of Transat A.T. Inc.. Other Board members include Vice-Chair Andreas Müseler (REWE Touristik), Matthias Leisinger (Kuoni), Antero Kaleva (Aurinkomatkat) and Othman Cherif Alami (Atlas Voyages).

“The TOI provides a strong voice to travel companies that believe in the role of tourism as a driver of economic growth, poverty alleviation and environment and heritage protection,” said Mr. Lemay. “With the support of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), TOI member companies work together at promoting the best practices in sustainability and corporate responsibility.”

UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai, reiterated the relevance of TOI in practically advancing key sustainable development objectives that UNWTO is promoting. “Tourism is a growing sector, despite the difficult international economic scenario, and this is the right time to promote and catalyze efforts to achieve sustainable tourism development across the different players of the industry while fully engaging the private sector in a mutually reinforcing relation to advance the international development agenda”, he said.

TOI has been successfully developing and implementing activities and projects with the key involvement of local stakeholders to help destinations remain tourism attractions and ensure that the socio-economic benefits generated by tourism are equally shared by host communities – for instance in Turkey, Mexico and Morocco.

The Initiative has also contributed to research on key issues ranging from integrating sustainability into the tour operators’ supply chain and the role of the tourism sector in a multi-cultural world, to the relation among tourism development, biodiversity conservation and poverty reduction strategies, and the integration of climate protection measures into corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategies.

SOURCE:UNWTO

Tax Holidays for the Hospitality Industries

2011-12-20T12:30:00.000Z

TIG

The Hospitality industry is set to receive a boost in the tourism sector in 2012. This was disclosed during the reading of the 2012 budget statement by finance Minister Dr. Kwabena Duffour.

It will be recalled that in the 2011 Budget, Government repealed LI 1817, which empowered the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) to grant tax exemptions to the Hotel and Hospitality Industries.

Government has completed the review of the relevant incentives granted under LI 1817 and, from next year, will incorporate them into the Internal Revenue Act 2000, (Act 592), which will be managed by the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA). The full list of the incentives will be published by the GRA in due course. To further boost the hotel and hospitality sub-sectors and to show commitment to this sector, the government has decided to reduce the sector’s corporate tax rate from 22 per cent to 20 per cent.

Industry experts, hoteliers and restaurateurs have welcomed the restoration of LI 1817 and are optimistic it will help the tourism sector. They however preferred more incentives for the sub sector.

In a related development, the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) is set to receive a major facelift in infrastructure as the KIA is enjoying some huge traffic of airlines to the country.

SOURCE: GTA
www.ghana.travel

UNWTO organizes crisis communications training programme for the Middle East and North Africa

2011-12-20T04:09:00.000Z

TIG
The UNWTO Themis Foundation, jointly with the Euro-Arab Institute Foundation for Education and Training (INSTEA), launched the autumn session of the 2011 UNWTO Practicum, a specialized training course for tourism officials of UNWTO Member States, focusing on crisis communications.

This session of the UNWTO Practicum was specifically designed to assist UNWTO Member States from the Middle East and North Africa region in building their knowledge and practical experiences in communication in times of crises. Under the coordination of the UNWTO Risk and Crisis Management Programme, this was the first ever Practicum to address the issue of crisis communications, recognizing this area as a crucial element of any effective crisis management system.

The Practicum put to test the new UNWTO Crisis Communications Toolbox. This recently released handbook serves as a practical guide for travel and tourism stakeholders, to effectively address the communications challenges posed by crises. The Toolbox, which includes templates for press releases and other crisis communications formats, covers issues stretching from interviews and press conference to the use of social media.

Overall, the programme provided a forum to strengthen knowledge in crisis communications and examine its implications in overall tourism policy. During a day-long training session, participants from Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Sudan, also had the opportunity to put their acquired knowledge into practice. High-pressure interviews and press conferences under real-life conditions completed the pragmatic approach of this newly initiated Practicum format.

SOURCE:UNWTO

CAR RENTAL ASSOCIATION OF GHANA TO STRETHEN UCC PARTNERSHIP

2011-12-19T08:05:00.000Z

TIG

The Car Rental Association of Ghana (CRAG) has said, plans are advanced to strengthen their partnership with University of Cape Coast and also establish a similar pact with Hotel ,Tourism and Catering Training Institute( HOTTCATT). This was made known to members of CRAG by their new executives led by its president Mr. Thomas Okyere during their first meeting since taking over.

Mr. Okyere said capacity building for the members of the Association and their quest to offer flawless service delivery and also play an active part in the tourism supply chain has necessitated the move to partner these noble institutions who have curved a niche for themselves in the tourism and hospitality industry.

He stressed that, the association has embarked on a massive membership drive to robe in all in order to have a strong and collection association that can put forward their suggestions and opinions on key national issues that hinges on their business.

He however concedes that, there have been some bottlenecks in their area of business and was confidence measures and initiatives taken will help curb those practices. He made mention of how, CRAG will re-introduce the sticker system where it will help the general public to easily identify with the group and reduce the inconveniences caused by fraudsters to clientele.

Members at the forum welcomed the programs and initiatives of the new executives and also urged them to periodically organize stakeholders’ forum where operators and colleagues will bond together and express their thoughts and new trends in the industry.

Tourism Minister seeks private sector investment for Dodi Island

2011-12-19T07:48:00.000Z

TIG
Ms Akosua Sena Dansua, Minister of Tourism at the weekend observed that Dodi Princess Island in the Volta Region, which has enormous investment opportunities to boost the tourism industry is lying fallow.

She therefore called on the private sector to take advantage of the island and make it a world class tourism destination.

Ms Dansua made the observation when he toured the island and cruised on the water body in the company of some members of parliament.

She said government alone cannot afford to develop the sector and attract tourists as the budget for the Ministry is inadequate, hence the need for the private sector to act as partners to provide facilities such as chalets on the island to facilitate tourism.

Ms Dansua expressed concern that the nation is losing the value of the island although it could generate income for the economy.

Mr Cletus Apul Avoka, Majority Leader said government can only provide infrastructure in the form of roads, electricity and other social amenities needed to make the island more attractive.

He appealed to the private sector to put up hotels in the area to create jobs for the people and enhance their standard of living.

Mr Rashid Pelpuo, Deputy Majority Leader, affirmed the Majority Leader’s view in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that government could only provide utilities like electricity and water to the people in the area.

Master Solomon Humado, a form one student of Dodi Ashanti Presby Junior High School told the GNA that residents travel with boats to across the lake to Gyemani to attend clinic and school.
SOURCE:GNA

AFRICAN CHORAL FESTIVAL LAUNCHED

2011-12-14T19:26:00.000Z

TIG

The Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) has launched the first ever African choral festival in Accra. The African Choral Festival under the theme,’’ Celebrating Culture through Choral Music’’ is slated for March 9-13, 2012 and will take place in the National Theatre in Accra and the Cape Coast Castle in the Central Region.

Launching the event, the Honourable Minister of Tourism, Mrs. Akua Sena Dansua said the festival will bring together choral groups from the United States of America, Asia, Europe, Western and Southern Africa and host Ghana. She added that the event will bring heavy inflows of foreign exchange, promote domestic tourism, foster national, regional and international cooperation and cohesion and also give Ghana the much needed publicity and exposure to boost investment.

She continued that Ghana is an ideal tourist destination with impeccable democratic credentials, a stable economy, an emerging oil and gas industry a 550km stretch pristine shoreline among others. The Honourable Minister further added that, there will be regional choral competitions in all the ten regions to select winners who will compete for the three top slots to represent Ghana at the event.

On his part, the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Tourism Authority, Mr. Julius Debrah stressed that, the Choral Festival will provide enormous opportunities especially for the private sector operators in the industry. He emphasized that, by this the GTA is creating a vehicle to market our tourism potential to the outside world. He added that, the tourism industry globally has become very competitive hence the need to develop niche products to stay competitive.

The Special Events Manager of the Ghana Tourism Authority, Mr. Ben Anane-Nsiah took turn to outline the dates for the regional competitions which take place between 10-28 January 2012. He stressed that Choral festival will not only be restricted to church music but will also embraced other traditional forms of choral music.

Source: Ghana Tourism Authority
www.ghana.travel

TOURISM MINISTER TO LEAD CRUISE ABOARD DODI PRINCESS

2011-12-13T21:49:00.000Z

TIG
The Ministry of Tourism, in partnership with the Volta River Authority, is inviting members of the Legislature to the Dodi Islands on December 17th, 2011 to discuss ways of developing the island into an enviable tourist destination in Ghana. The two-hour cruise to the island will provide some relaxation to the Honourable Members.

This activity, an initiative of Sector Minister, Hon. Akua Sena Dansua, is also to instill in Ghanaians, especially those with busy schedules, the need to make time for recreation, relaxation and amusement. According to Hon. Dansua, such tours to tourist sites are aimed at exposing policy makers and Corporate Ghana to some potential investment opportunities in the sector, and thereby attract the needed capital investment.

The Ministry, in September, organised a similar programme dubbed “Ambassadorial Tour” for members of the Diplomatic Corp and the media as part of the World Tourism Day Celebrations. The tour, the first of its kind, took the delegation to the Kpando Grottos, the Wli Falls, and the Kpando-Torkor Landing site. Members of the delegation, among others, expressed the need for similar tours in future.

SOURCE:BOAKYE-BOATENG PRINCE
DIRECTOR, PUBLIC RELATIONS
MINISTRY OF TOURISM

WHEN TOUR GUIDES GO WEST

2011-12-12T12:52:00.001Z

TIG
The Western Region has lately been receiving considerable visitor and investment attention. And for good reasons too. However, it is not only oil which should make this well-endowed area raise its chin up. Here, tourism is also oiling the economy.

From the pristine west coast beaches to the historic forest plantations this destination boasts of great heritage, wildlife, river safaris and quaint picturesque places such as Dixcove.

Following on the charm of these offerings, members of the Tour Guides Association of Ghana (TORGAG) last weekend embarked on a three day tour of the Western Region. The 25 member group included practitioners from Apstar Tours, Galaxy Tours, Sunseekers, Abacar, CTB and some representatives of the Tour Operators Union of Ghana.

Nkunu Akyea a tourism consultant and a member of the group said, ‘‘The tourism bill which is now law has validated the distinct role that the tour guide plays within the entire tourism structure.’’ Himself a seasoned tour guide, Akyea explained that the tour guide acts as the interface between the tourist and the tourism experience.

Starting from Wasa Domama, the group visited the Rock Shrine. This is a mighty geological freak of nature which creates a great umbrella of a shade. Of course, there is also the usual mouthwatering local legend. A one km hike from the Shrine takes visitors through cocoa farms and forest canopies.

This hectic walk is eventually rewarded with a most marvelous sight, the Pra River Crossing. With a majestic stroll, the golden brown water flows along its course towards the sea. From across the bank, the scene presents an island feel. There is a cruise opportunity on the river. However, Galamsey operations were also ongoing along the bank.

From Axim Beach Resort where the group spent the night, the next stop was Benyin for a tour of Fort Appolonia. Founded by the British between 1765 and 1771, Fort Apollonia was the last fort to have been built on the shores of the Gold Coast. The well maintained fort is home to a museum dedicated to the preservation and promotion of Nzema culture and heritage, displayed through gorgeous exhibits and art works. A common imagery is the oblong-shaped local fishing trap.

A visit to the Wildlife Society of Ghana visitor centre is an opportunity to learn that one can capture a glimpse of humpback or sperm whales as well as dolphins during the months of September to December.

In the words of Jonathan Gokah, Tourism Development Officer ‘‘Visitation has increased especially on weekends and holidays thus compelling us to devise new products to ease the pressure’’. Canoe rides are organised for tourist to go on the sea. Bird watching and watching turtles leave the sea to lay eggs in the sand are some of the activities.

The journey to Nzulezo stilt village came with the excitement that is always assured. The one hour river safari to the village showed the vast expanse of the Amanzuri River. At the village itself, everyone and everything is on the water. Schools, markets, churches, playgrounds and Akpeteshie bars were all being ran afloat the Amanzuri.

The day ended with visit to Nkroful , the birthplace of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana’s first President. The Mausoleum is in good shape and visitors had the chance to see facilities such as the kitchen of Nyaneba, Dr. Nkrumah’s mother.

On the final day, the tour guides group visited the Axim Beach and stopped over at Fort Anthonio. After driving through rubber, palm and orange plantations, the team finally arrived at Cape Three Point. This is the southernmost part of Ghana and indeed West Africa.

The beach here is simply breath taking. The water is sparkling clear and blue in a way that matches the Caribbean and even the Cote d’Azur. Simply splendid.

A little into the sea from this point is where the longitude and latitude intersects. Much, much further ashore is the Jubilee fields, the zone where Ghana’s oil is being mined. The Light house at Cape Three Point offers an amazing, almost 360 degree view.

An interesting landmark here, is a signpost that shows arrows pointing to various locations of the world. Places being directed to include The Equator, Moscow, Tokyo, The North Pole, Brazil, Los Angeles and Trinidad.

Interacting with the tour guides, Makafui Ladzekpo, the Station Officer of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority said a good number of visitors are foreign tourists. He said catering and lodging services can be arranged for overnight visitors.

Giving an overview at the end of the programme, TORGAG President, Kwaku Passah Snr. expressed satisfaction with the event and added that, ‘’Periodically, we must take these educational trips to be abreast with the state of the destinations and to master the narratives behind the attractions’

SOURCE:KOFI AKPABLI kofiakpabli@yahoo.com

Ghana’s tourism flies high in UK, China

2011-12-10T10:35:00.000Z

TIG

Over the last few weeks, the miss tourism organization-Ghana has been busy flying around the world on the wings of the recently crowned Club-Miss Tourism Ghana 2011, Priscilla Asare, and her First Princess, Golda Aba Dayi, as well as last year’s winner Charlotte Quagraine.

The 2011 winner and her runner up attended the world travel market (WTM) in London and the launch of Miss Tourism Ghana UK in Luton, a suburb of London, where the beauties engaged in a number of tourism promotion activities.

They also visited the popular Oxford Street, Marble Arch and stores such as Selfridges and Marks and Spencer Clad in clothes specially designed with authentic Ghanaian fabrics.

And when Ghana Day was celebrated at the WTM, the queen and princess wearing DaViva gowns, topped with crowns from Emefa jewellery and hair done with Darling Hair helped to direct the human traffic to the Ghana Stand as they distributed various leaflets on Ghana to encourage people to visit Ghana.

The Miss Tourism Organisation-Ghana in collaboration with the Luton-based Ghana Society, founded by Maria Lovell, launched Miss Tourism Ghana UK at the UK Centre for Carnival Arts during the Kente Media awards.

Miss Delia Wigham was appointed as Miss Tourism Ghana UK 2011 with Priscilla Owusu as her assistant to encourage Ghanaian youth in UK to visit Ghana regularly and also help to promote Ghanaian tourism in the UK. Beginning next year, a competitive Miss Tourism Ghana-UK event will be held in London annually.

The Minister of Tourism, Ms Akua Sena Dansua, crowned the UK queen. At the same event the announcement for a carnival intended to usher in the festivities leading to the commemoration of the 10th Anniversary of Panafest/Emancipation in July was made by the MP for Madina, Alhaji Sorogho, who is also the Chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Tourism, Trade and Industries.

During a courtesy call by the queens and the event organizers on Ghana’s High Commissioner to the UK, Professor Kwaku Danso, the latter encouraged all Ghanaians to get involved in the country’s tourism promotion drive and thanked the Miss Tourism Organisation-Ghana for their initiative.

Miss Tourism Ghana UK will be an annual affair to be organized by the Luton based Ghana Society in collaboration with the Miss Tourism Ghana Organisation.

In a related development, Miss Tourism Ghana 2010, Charlotte Quagraine is set to fly to china to participate in this year’s Miss Tourism Queen International pageant to be held in Xian from December, 13-27, 2011.

Miss Tourism-Ghana’s international activities were supported by Club Beer, Metropolitan Insurance Company,DaViva Fabrics, Emefa Jewellery and Darling Hair.

SOURCE:THE MIRROR

GTA TO INTENSIFY THE PROMOTION OF TOURIST ATTRACTIONS

2011-12-06T20:48:00.000Z

TIG

The Ghana Tourism Authority in its quest to offer the best tourism experience to its clients would be collaborating with the Metropolitan, Municpal, District assemblies and the indigenes to promote Ghana’s tourist attractions, Acting deputy executive director, Finance and Administration of the Authority Mr. Samson Donkor has said.

Speaking to an Accra-based radio station, UNIQUE FM he said with the new tourism law (Act1817), the Authority would expand its scope of operations to cover wider areas and also generate more funds to help develop the tourism sector.

He stressed that, the 1% levy tourism tax from all tourism plants will go a long way to help GTA embark on initiatives and programs that will make the tourism sector a vibrant one. He said skills development and training will be one of the main issues that the authority will be concentrating on to offer quality service.

Mr. Samson Donkor said, the tourism industry will now be competing with other sectors in the national development drive. In answer to a question, the Acting Deputy Executive Director predicted that by June 2012, the Ghana Tourism Authority will take full shape, a situation which will make the tourism sector the number one foreign exchange earner for Ghana.

He however also warned that, Ghana will not promote and encourage mass tourism but instead promote quality non mass tourism with emphasis on the up market tourists. He conceded that there is infrastructural deficit in the tourist sites and that the Ghana Tourism Authority would ensure that most of the tourist sites have the requisite facilities that would help promote Ghana as the preferred tourism destination in West Africa.

SOURCE: Ghana Tourism Authority, Public Relations Department
www.ghana.travel

Domestic airlines in Ghana to reduce fares

2011-12-06T07:42:00.000Z

TIG

Patrons of domestic airlines in the country are likely to start enjoying fares as low as GhC 30 from Accra to Kumasi by the first quarter of next year following increased competition in the domestic aviation sector.

The sector which has four airlines, Citylink, Antrak, Starbow and 540, currently operating is expected to see more airlines joining the industry by the first quarter of 2012.

This is expected to push domestic fares down. Already, fares between Accra and Kumasi are hovering between 90 and 120 Ghana cedis.

The president of the Ghana Association of Travels and Tourist Agents (GATA), Hillariius Macash Akpah Snr. has said though industry players are hopeful the prices will drop significantly due to the competition, flyers must also demand a drop in fares.

"During this Christmas, they can bring the cost down to about 30 or 35 Ghana cedis for those who want to go to Kumasi and Koforidua for the holidays,” he stated.

The entrance of new airlines, Starbow and 540, are reported to have contributed to a drop in current fares.

SOURCE:WWW.CITIFMONLINE.COM

International Volunteer Day: UNWTO Volunteers promote tourism’s contribution to development

2011-12-06T04:29:00.000Z

TIG
On International Volunteer Day (5 December), celebrated in 2011 under the theme ‘Volunteering Matters’, UNWTO is highlighting how tourism and volunteer work can make a difference through its UNWTO Volunteers.

UNWTO Volunteers work on tourism projects around the world, contributing to development through tourism. On International Volunteer Day, UNWTO Volunteers have been sharing their experiences and showing how their support to tourism projects in the world’s developing regions is helping to change lives.

Whether in Bhutan, Brazil, Guatemala or Niger, the UNWTO Volunteers all agree that tourism is having a positive impact on the local communities they work with, economically, socially and culturally. Tourism can be one of the most effective drivers of grassroots development and employment for developing countries, and volunteers are helping to make this potential a reality.

UNWTO’s Volunteers programme, run by the UNWTO.Themis Foundation, counts on over 200 individuals who have received training in tourism as a tool for development. Many of these professionals, including the four in the video, go on to volunteer around the world, applying their training to benefit local communities.

SOURCE:UNWTO

BA pilot gets teen stewardess pregnant

2011-12-05T04:43:00.000Z

TIG
A TEENAGE stewardess is having a married captain's baby after they took British Airways' Hug A Pilot scheme a bit too far.

Bosses at the airline — motto To Fly, To Serve — had ordered cabin crew to socialise with cockpit colleagues to boost morale. It is understood the hostess slept with the £100,000-a-year-plus captain during a boozy stop-over between flights.

A BA insider said last night: "The Hug A Pilot edict was not supposed to lead to this.

"It is an example of a night out which got out of hand."

The randy pilot is believed to have initially denied having sex, but later confessed to pals to a "moment of madness". His wife, who also works for BA, is said to be devastated but is thought to have decided to stand by her husband.

he stewardess has been grounded due to her condition.

She has also been moved from BA's base at Heathrow's Terminal 5 to a regional engineering centre to keep her out of the wife's way.

The insider added: "The girl's pregnancy and move to engineering is the talk of the airline. She was stunned to find she was expecting, but wants to keep the baby. She will be looked after financially because of the captain's pay."

The Sun revealed two months ago how BA had told its 13,500 cabin crew to link up with its 3,000 pilots on foreign trips.

Dubbed Hug A Pilot by staff, it was meant to restore relations after recent divisive industrial disputes. It was also designed to blend in younger cabin crew, who had been brought in on lower money and less perks than established older workers.

The source said: "The new crews are young and want to have fun. They joined BA to travel the world and enjoy the perks of the job on nights out between flights.

"Landing at exotic far-flung destinations, all the crews go out and get smashed." BA would not comment.

SOURCE:THE SUN,UK

Patronage of domestic flights doubling

2011-12-02T22:50:00.000Z

TIG
Recent competition in the domestic aviation industry has shot up traffic to the major destination to about 50 per cent even though, according to international standards, is still grossly under-serving the market.

According to industry experts, the Accra-Kumasi route for instance should have about 20 flights per day to adequately serve the population in the two cities.

But the situation is improving steadily since the entrance of new players, Starbow and 540 Airline join the industry.

Two months ago, there was only an average of four return flights from Accra to Kumasi but this has almost double while same can be said for the Tamale and Takoradi routes.

In an exclusive interview with Citi Business News, the CEO of Starbow, Dr Brock Friesen talked about the massive growth in the domestic aviation industry this year.

e said: “What is interesting is that, in the month of October, the amount of domestic traffic flowing through the domestic terminal here in Accra, although I haven’t seen the numbers, indicates that it has doubled. ”

“The domestic volumes have also doubled on the route to Kumasi and Tamale. It’s obvious, when you go to the airport, everywhere is full, and the terminals weren’t built for so many people. ”

Meanwhile, Dr. Friesen told Citi Business News that Starbow is expecting a new aircraft to add to its fleet within the first quarter of next year but in the mean time has increased the number of flights on the Tamale route to serve the increasing demand.

SOURCE: Citifmonline.com

South African Airways introduces fifth flight to Accra

2011-12-02T06:22:00.000Z

TIG
South African Airways (SAA) has strengthened its operations to West Africa by adding a fifth flight frequency to the Accra route.

“SAA is supporting the growth in demand for air travel to Ghana by adding more travel options for our valued customers,” said Theunis Potgieter, SAA General Manager Commercial in a statement issued in Accra and made available to the Ghana News Agency.

It said with Accra being one of SAA’s key destinations in West Africa, the airline would from December 2, 2011, add a fifth frequency between its hub in Johannesburg, and the Kotoka International Airport (KIA).

The statement said the flight which would occur on Fridays is now available for reservations through the Global Distribution System (GDS) and via SAA’s website.

“As the leading airline on the continent, South African Airways has a proud and safe history spanning 76 years. We are most pleased to add more travel options to Accra in keeping with the expectations of our customers,” it said.

Ghana serves as one of the major hubs for air travel in West Africa and has experienced significant economic growth in the past several years, leading to a considerable increase in air traffic and demand for more services on the country’s primary international airport.

The statement said SAA would be receiving its sixth new A330-200 in early December adding that the A330-200 is the first twin-powered wide body aircraft to enter the SAA fleet.

“Its cabins are widely recognised as among the best in the sky in terms of spaciousness and quietness. It is one of the safest, most reliable and efficient wide-body aircraft in service today,” it said.

It said passengers travelling from Accra can check in online at www.flysaa.com – 24hrs before departure for a baggage drop off service at the airport.

It said SAA would continue with the expansion of its African route network, with added frequencies on existing routes where demand dictates and by adding new destinations to its Africa route network.

Source: GNA

Tourism and Hospitality a major source of employment-Minister

2011-11-30T04:30:00.000Z

TIG
Ms Akua Sena Dansoa, Minister of Tourism on Monday said the tourism and the hospitality sectors of the economy have remained one of the largest avenues for employment creation in the country.

She said the tourism sector requires a healthy workforce to enhance service delivery to translate into positive economic growth for the industry, which is largely dependent on private sector investment.

Ms Dansoa made this observation at the end of a project review of the Ghana Tourism Authority and the Hospitality Industries on the theme: “Promoting Good Health through Tourism.”

She said health was one of the priorities of the Government’s “Better Ghana Agenda” and that the government would collaborate with private institutions, religious organizations, local and foreign NGOs as well as individuals who continued to take steps to address the concerns and challenges in the health sector.

Ms Dansoa said ensuring optimum health for employer and employees through health sensitization activities was critical as good health contributed to valued addition and improved levels of value retention.

She said Ghana was recently rated in the United States as one of the 10 top travel destinations to visit in 2012 and “The Ministry of Tourism was taking steps to improve the international marketing of Ghana as a destination and also promoting domestic tourism.”

Ms Adeline Boateng, Human Resource Manager of the Ghana Tourism Authority said tourism held the human resource base of organizations since contacts among human beings were made constantly saying, “The industry is highly labour intensive and needs a healthy workforce to make a difference.”

Ms Boateng said the programme was aimed at covering the whole Nation but for a start five (5) Regions were selected namely Greater Accra, Western, Central, Volta and Ashanti Regions.

She said training and sensitization programmes were organized for selected staff of the Ghana Tourism Authority as well as members of the hospitality trade associations in the five selected regions, adding that, “as an organization we are ready to create a supportive environment to help all those in the tourism and hospitality fraternity to lead healthy lives.”

Currently 146 institutions have the work places policies in place but 5,164 policies have so far been distributed in all, she added.

Dr Tills, Team Leader of GIZ-ReCHT, said an expansion of HIV and TB health units for disease prevention within the hospitality industry would be established.

He said since 2006 private and public sector implementation of work place programmes such as health, social protection and financial wellness which targeted an approximate figure of 60,000 people had been successful.

Mr Julius Debrah, Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Tourism Authority, expressed the Authority appreciation to GIZ ReCHT and re-affirmed the commitment to continue the programme with the collaborators.

GNA

TOURISM TV SERIES LAUNCHED

2011-11-30T04:19:00.000Z

TIG

In order to promote domestic tourism and also imbibe the acts of travelling among Ghanaians, the Alban-ST Concepts, a private media production in collaboration with the Ghana Tourism Authority has launched a tourism TV series dubbed ‘Heritage Ghana’’ which be shown on GTV and Crystal TV come February 2012.

Madam Candy Mary Bell on behalf of Alban-St CONCEPTS clearly outlined their mission for this project. She said, the reason behind this project was primarily to compliment the Ghana Tourism Authority’s effort to promote domestic tourism and also bring Ghana’s wonderful tourism attractions and heritage to the door steps of Ghanaians.

She stressed that, the program will be aired on National television, GTV and Crystal TV come February 2012. She said it will be fourteen weeks of thrilling and exciting coverage of Ghana’s tourism per season. She indicated how the Company would seek to institute a scholarship scheme in every district.

The chairman of the occasion, Mr. Nkunu Akyea, tasked Ghanaians to be proud of their rich heritage and said Ghana was among the few countries that have unique cultural traits. He pointed out that the proverbial Ghanaian hospitality made Ghana stood tall among its competitors.

On his part, the acting deputy executive director for Finance and Administration, Mr. Samsom Donkor assured the organizers and the public that, the Authority will do its best to sustain such a wonderful program and commended the organizer s for coming up with such initiative.

There were solidarity messages from the Managing Director of the Ghana Airports Company Limited, Mrs. Doreen Owusu-Fianko, ace Ghanaian Musician Bessa Simmons and Legal practitioner Nana Asante Bediatou who all happened to be patrons for the Heritage TV show.The organizers selected 24 district capitals where the show will start from through a ballot.

Ghana Tourism Authority partakes in Ecowas Trade Fair

2011-11-29T09:39:00.002Z

TIG

The Ghana Tourism Authority is leaving no stone unturned in its quest to make Ghana the hub and the hot bed of tourism as it is once again taking part in the ongoing 6th Ecowas trade fair in the Togolese capital of Lome.

Ghana’s participation in the fair was coordinated by the Ministry of Trade and Industries with funding from the Export Development and Investment Fund (EDIF) seek to export and market Ghanaian products and services to the West African sub region.

Other government Agencies, Department and Ministries taking part in this fair is the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ghana Export Promotion Authority,Ghana Trade Fair Company, Export Development and investment Fund, Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Federation of Associations of Ghanaian Exporters, Ghana Investment Promotion Centre Association of Ghana Industries and the Ghana Free Zones Board.

This fair comes after an impressive showing at the just ended World Travel Market 2011, in Excel, London where participants thronged the Ghana Stand to familiarize themselves with the country’s tourism resources and had a special moment with Black Stars and Al-hin striker Asamoah Gyan.

The Authority is confident of using this platform to market Ghana’s tourist products to the sub region and also attract foreign investors in the tourism industry to the country. The GTA also wants to use this opportunity to sustain Francophone countries’ interest in Ghana’s tourism and encourage more Anglophone visitors from the region also to visit Ghana.

The 6th ECOWAS Trade Fair, will give participating countries the regional platform to explore West Africa’s market of about 300 million consumers. The 17-day fair, which begun on 25th November 2011, will be held alongside the 9th Lome International Trade Fair, a special arrangement between the ECOWAS Commission and the Government of Togo, due to the inability of Cote d’Ivoire to host the fair in 2010 as earlier planned.

As with previous fairs, the 2011 Ecowas Trade Fair seeks to promote economic integration and trade among citizens in Member States, especially industrialists, investors, manufacturers, commercial operators and buyers.

It will feature products and services originating from the region, including industrial products, animal husbandry and fishing, minerals, cottage industries, textiles and services in various sectors.

The trade fair will also afford participants the opportunity to take part in conferences, seminars and workshops on various themes related to the overall objective of the fair.

In addition, participants would be able to exhibit their products and services and meet other professionals with the prospect of concluding business deals that would promote trade and help improve the living standards of citizens within the Ecowas Community. Previously held every four years, the ECOWAS Trade Fair is now a biennial event.

SOURCE:GHANA TOURISM AUTHORITY,PUBLIC RELATIONS DEPARTMENT

World choirs to descend on Ghana

2011-11-26T13:32:00.000Z

TIG

An African Choral festival, the first of its kind has been scheduled to come off at various locations in Ghana from March 8 through March 12 next year.

Four choirs from the United States of America with total membership numbering some 200 choristers, will join voices with choirs from Togo, the Republic of Benin and possibly Nigeria(Representing West Africa), an unnamed East African Country and South Africa to descend on Accra and Cape Coast for a choral music festival.

If all goes well, Ghana’s delegation to this year’s on-going World choral Olympics hopes to sign on choirs from other countries to participate. One of these is likely to be the Korean choir which has for some years now been visiting Ghana annually on choral tours and are often seen on national television entertaining Ghanaians to African choral music.

Each of the festival choirs will, in addition to their own repertoires, be required to learn a number of Ghanaian songs. The Ghanaian songs will be performed by an ensemble of all participating choirs. To give it a more multi-national coloration, the mass choir renditions will be conducted by Dr Andre Thomas, the world famed American conductor.

The festival, expected to be an annual event in Ghana, is being planned and implemented by the Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Tourism and the Ghana Tourism Authority.

The Executive Director of the Ghana Tourism Authority, Mr. Julius Debrah, used the occasion of this interview to remind Ghanaians that ‘’at a time like this when, because of the unfortunate Arab Spring, tourists are looking elsewhere , away from north Africa, the time is now for us to take advantage to multiply tourist arrivals and revenue generation.’’

Source: ENIMIL ASHON (DAILY GRAPHIC)

GHANA APPOINTED TO UNWTO ST-EP FOUNDATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS

2011-11-26T12:45:00.000Z

TIG

Ghana, represented by the Minister of Tourism, Hon. Akua Sena Dansua (MP), has been appointed a member of the Board of Directors of the prestigious UNWTO ST-EP Foundation.

The appointment took place at the nineteenth session of the UNWTO General Assembly held in Gyeongju in the Republic of South Korea from 9th-14th October, 2011.

A letter addressed to Hon. Sena Dansua and signed by the UNWTO Secretary General, Taleb Rifai, dated November 17, 2011 confirmed the appointment, and looked forward to Ghana’s active participation on the new Board.

ST-EP, an acronym for “Sustainable Tourism Eliminating Poverty” is a project created to harness the developmental power of Tourism in the fight against global poverty. Its origins and goals are closely tied to the UN Millennium Development Goals, which includes halving extreme poverty and hunger by the year 2015. The ST-EP is especially focused on people living on less than a dollar a day, and is targeted mainly at the world’s least developed countries, especially those from Africa.

ST-EP grew out of the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg and in 2005 the UNWTO's General Assembly in Dakar unanimously approved the ST-EP Foundation's Constitution, including the establishment of the eight-member Board of Directors, as well as the choice of Seoul as its headquarters.

The ST-EP Board is an important governing board in the UNWTO, which provides valuable guidance and supervision to the development of the ST-EP Initiative. In the past years, the support of the ST-EP Board has been instrumental in launching of 100 ST-EP projects worldwide, planning and undertaking research activities, and organizing awareness-raising and capacity building seminars on tourism and poverty reduction.

The ST-EP Foundation has brought the Thank You Small Library initiative to support people living in the least developed parts of the world. The TYSL model is based on the Korean experience of development through education.

The Thank You Small Library (TYSL) initiative is in underprivileged communities where children do not have access to reading and studying facilities and to provide them with both educational and entertainment opportunities through reading. Ghana has benefited from Twenty-four (24) of the Thank You Small Libraries (TYSL) project since October 2007.

PRESS RELEASE:BOAKYE-BOATENG PRINCE
DIRECTOR, PUBLIC RELATIONS
MINISTRY OF TOURISM

Akua Sena Dansoa inaugurates 340,000 Tourist Centre for the Akwamu Traditional Council

2011-11-25T12:23:00.000Z

TIG
Miss Akua Sena Dansoa, the Minister of Tourism, has inaugurated a GHC340, 000 Tourist Receptive Centre for the Akwamu Traditional Council at Akwamufie.

The facility would provide a one stop shop for information on the history of the Akwamu people; serve as a tourist centre where the relics of the Akwamu people would be displaced and as a creational centre.

Speaking at the opening, Miss Dansoa praised the Akwamu people and the Eastern Region for the role it had played in shaping the history of the country.

She mentioned the Boti Falls, the Aburi Botanical Gardens, the Tini Waterfalls, the Akosombo Dam and the Senchi Bridge as some of the cultural heritage of the Region.

“The Ministry is committed to adding value to the existing tourist attractions and helping to develop new areas such as the Dodi Island,” she said.

She said the Ministry had submitted a memo to cabinet on the redevelopment of the Eredec Hotel which used to be the pride of the Eastern region.

Miss Dansoa appealed to the District Assembly to develop a marketable proposal that would attract investment to Akwamu and also incorporate tourism development in their annual plan.

“This act would, as we all know, has the capacity to generate funds for the district and create also employment in other sectors in the district for the youth," she said.

Nana Kwafo Akoto 111, the Paramount Chief of Akwamu Traditional Area, expressed satisfaction with the construction of the facility as it would boost tourism in the area.

He said the people of Akwamu had a rich tradition and relics with some as old as 600 years which needed to be preserved.

Mr Jonson Ahiakpor, Asougyaman District Chief Executive, called for the formation of a council made up of the Traditional Council and the District Assembly to appropriately manage the facility for maximum profit.
SOURCE:GNA

Use country's cultural heritage to promote sustainable tourism development-Veep

2011-11-25T04:54:00.000Z

TIG
Vice President John Dramani Mahama on Thursday urged Ghanaians to use the country's cultural heritage as means to develop sustainable tourism in the wake of threat of climate change to natural resources.

In a speech read for him, he noted that though Ghana’s tourism development drive had always emphasized natural resources and forts and castles, much attention had not been paid to sustainability.

Mr Mahama made the remarks at the launch of Village Pride Heritage Consultancy Limited (VPHCL), a private firm into the promotion of tourism development, in Accra on Thursday.

He noted that Ghana’s rich history, culture and traditions, which attracted many tourists, dated back into history.

He expressed worry that globalization with its attendant cultural challenges resulted in rapid loss of the rich traditions and culture.

Mr Mahama called for preservation of the culture, natural resources, historical and environmental resources so that it would continue to serve as tourist attraction.

He pledged the government’s continued support to tourism, lands, natural resources and cultural sectors.

Dr Clement Abass Apaak, Lecturer at the University of Ghana, called for ingenious ways of marketing Africans’ values, traditions and culture to generate revenue.

Mr Samuel Nilirmi Nkumbaan, an Administrator and Manager of the VPHCL, said the firm, was set up to promote tourism development, sustainable development, heritage management, cultural and natural resource management and archaeological consultancy services.

SOURCE:GNA

Ghana Airports Company to conduct security simulation exercise at Kotoka International Airport

2011-11-24T14:39:00.000Z

TIG
The Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL) says it will conduct a full scale security related exercise at the Kotoka International Airport on November 30.

This is in compliance with Ghana Civil Aviation Regulations LI 1824 and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Annex 17 Standard 5.1.4. The announcement was contained in a statement released by the GACL on Wednesday.

The exercise is aimed at evaluating the state of readiness of the Ghana Airports Company Ltd and the country as a whole in dealing with an act of unlawful interference at the Airport and its related facilities.

The exercise will involve personnel from the Ghana Armed Forces, Ghana Police Force, Ghana Immigration Services, Ghana Revenue Authority – Customs Division, National Security, Narcotics Control Board, Ghana Civil Aviation Authority and Ghana Airports Company Ltd.

The exercise code named “EXERCISE PATAKU 2011” will simulate an act of unlawful interference with operations and the facilities at the Airport and the subsequent response by the Security Agencies in the Country. It is expected to be observed by a team of experts from ICAO, GCAA and visitors from neighbouring countries.

The GACL wishes to assure the general public that though the Airport may be cordoned off for the duration of the exercise normalcy would be restored at the earliest convenience.

Source: GNA

Cuban Ambassador calls on Minister For Tourism

2011-11-24T12:58:00.000Z

TIG
Cuba’s Ambassador to Ghana, Mr. Jorge Lefebre Nicolas has paid a courtesy call on the Minister for Tourism, Hon Akua Sena Dansua at her office in Accra.Discussions centered on strengthening bilateral relations between Cuba and Ghana especially in the tourism sector.

According to Ms Dansua, people from the two countries have always maintained friendly ties, she praised Cuba for its efforts in expanding domestic tourism and was hopeful that Ghana would learn from the Cuban experience.

She then briefed Mr. Nicolas about Ghana’s development priorities in tourism, and said Government is prioritizing the development of domestic tourism as a means of diversifying the country's economy and hopes to further expand cooperation in tourism with Cuba. In this vain she hoped Cuba will assist Ghana in training Ghanaian officials in the tourism sector.

The Minister of Tourism, Akua Sena Dansua, reminisced on her visit to Cuba, when she was the Sports Minister, noting that tourism industry in Cuba is a thriving one with a lot of infrastructural development in place, serving to attract people who visit the country.

Mr. Nicolas used the opportunity to invite Ms. Dansua to next year’s Cuba’s International Tourism Fair and hoped she would make it to the event, adding that Cuba values the relationship between the two countries and is committed to further develop the friendly and cooperative bilateral relationship in every field including tourism on the basis of equality and mutual benefits.

Mr. Nicolas was later presented with a publication on the Transatlantic Slave Trade by Ms. Dansua.

Source: ISD (Charles Nii Ayiku Ayiku and Loretta Naa Dei Ashie)

Fiesta Royale adjudged best in West Africa

2011-11-23T13:39:00.000Z

TIG

The Fiesta Royale Hotel in Accra has picked the top award at the 2011 West African Tourism and Hospitality (WATHA) Awards.

The hotel, located at North Dzorwulu in Accra, has been adjudged the Best Four-Star Hotel/Resort among its contemporaries in the West African sub region.

The WATHA awards is organized yearly to award and celebrate top industry organizations that have shown skill, creativity, ingenuity and success in West Africa’s growing tourism and hospitality industry.

The awards aim, among others, to encourage higher standards and applaud the efforts made by individual set ups and personalities, as well as to stimulate a fairly competitive spirit to galvanise brilliance within the industry in West Africa.

Several categories are awarded each year, such as the best educational sector, tourism authority, travel agent, management firm (indigenous and international brands), car rentals, and financial institutions among others.

At the second annual WATHA awards held in Accra, Fiesta Royale Hotel was voted as the ‘Best Four-Star Hotel/Resort’ in West Africa this year, in recognition and acknowledgement of its outstanding achievements and quality services.

Present to receive the award were the General Manager, Mr. Neville Paul, the Financial controller, Ms Patience Dzikunoo, the Sales and Marketing Manager, Mrs. Yvonne Eyeson and Executive Chef, Mr. Jean Bernard Amic.

Mr. Paul paid glowing tribute to the dedicated and industrious staff, as well as loyal clients of the hotel by whose collective effort, ‘we have reached this milestone and won this prestigious award’’.

He said the award was a motivation to the hotel in its stride to chalk up more successes and honours, and also make more meaningful contributions to enhance the image and prospects of the tourism and hospitality industry in West Africa.

Mr Paul took the opportunity to announce to its large clientele activities earmarked for the celebration of this year’s Christmas, which include: Lighting of the Christmas tree, a special Christmas day lunch, a children’s party and a New Year lunch.

In a related development, the UNDP office in the county has sent words of appreciation and profound gratitude to Fiesta Royale for the professional manner it hosted the Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme from September 17-27, this year.

The National Coordinator of the programme, Mr. George Ortsin, said, being the first time that the country had hosted the event, the management and staff of the hotel gave a good account of ‘’your hospitality and dedication to work.

‘’we would, therefore, on behalf of the Central Programme Management Team(CPTM) of the GES/SGP, like to extend our sincere appreciation to you and say ‘’thank you’ for the professional conduct you exhibited in ensuring the smooth organization of the work shop activities,’’ he said.

SOURCE:DAILY GRAPHIC,GHANA.

Thomas Cooked (Travel giant hit by cash crisis)

2011-11-23T08:42:00.000Z

TIG
PACKAGE holidays giant Thomas Cook was fighting for life last night after warning it needs more cash to survive.

Fears for the group that takes six million Brits abroad every year soared as it went cap in hand to the banks.

Shares crashed by 75 PER CENT as it revealed it needs another £100million to get through the winter — when holiday companies typically make a loss.

Thomas Cook secured a £100million "lifeline" from the same banks only 33 days ago. There were reports last night that it considered plans to raise as much as £400MILLION.

Acting chief Sam Weihagen blamed a disastrous downturn in bookings by customers in France and Russia for holidays in Tunisia and Egypt.

He told The Sun: "We thought it would be prudent to have a robust financial position so we decided to go to our banks."

Mr Weihagen insisted customers can still book with confidence as every trip is protected by ATOL — Air Travel Organisers' Licensing. He said: "I don't see any reason why people should be careful."

But Thomas Cook's future is now in the hands of 17 banks — led by Barclays, HSBC and Italy's UniCredit.

Customers yesterday flooded internet forums with worries a bout their dream holidays.

Thomas Cook — Europe's second biggest tour group behind Thomson owner TUI — employs 20,000 people in the UK. The revolution in Egypt wiped out 50 per cent of bookings from the UK overnight.

The economic chaos in Europe was blamed last night for a near 20 per cent dive in bookings from France, Belgium and Holland in the past month.

Ex-chief Manny Fontenla-Novoa was booted out in August after masterminding a deal to buy the Co-op travel business. Sources said he got a £1.1million pay-off — despite three profit warnings before he left.

Mr Weihagen admitted hotels offered to Brits in Greece and the Costas were not good enough.

Expert Bob Atkinson, of TravelSupermarket, said: "The brand itself is powerful.

But Thomas Cook is too focused on the bottom end of the market rather than the mass market.

SOURCE:THE SUN,UK

KURUBI FESTIVAL 2011

2011-11-22T14:00:00.001Z

TIG
The annual Kurubi festival is again here with us. The festival since its inception has moved from strength to strength. The Ghana Tourism Authority and the other stakeholders are promoting the festival to make this year’s celebration truly spectacular.

This year’s festival under the theme ‘’promoting culture for tourism and development” will have his Excellency the vice president of the republic of Ghana, Mr. John Dramani Mahama as the Special Guest of Honour. This year’s event is slated for the 21st-26th November, 2011.

The event will see the visit of delegates to Larabanga and will be followed by a mini durbar at Yabon Wura’s palace. Other programs on the bill include regatta at Buipe, General Cleaning exercise at the Kintampo falls and recitation of the holy Quran.

One of the highpoints of this year’s festival will be the commissioning of the upgraded electrification project.

Kurubi festival is a joyous celebration for the Wangaras in honour of their ancestors who are indigenes of Bambaras, Mandingoe Djula from once ancient kingdom of Mali and Songhai. This festival was usually celebrated by their ancestors beginning on the 27th night of the month of Ramadan a period of fasting on the Islamic calendar. This night is regarded as a revelation night believed among Muslims and the Wangaras as a period when Almighty Allah sends blessing to his people.

SOURCE:GHANA TOURISM AUTHORITY

VRA votes $ 2.5m for Dodi Island eco-tourism development

2011-11-22T12:55:00.000Z

TIG

The Volta River Authority (VRA) has allocated 2.5 million dollars for the development of the eco-tourism potential on the Dodi Island.

The project, being funded through the Authority’s Volta Hotels Limited subsidiary, is aimed at placing value on the 213-acre island.

The Dodi Island with a population of about 404 residents is located about 27 kilometers away from Akosombo. The Island, which serves as one of the major tourist sites in the country, was created in 1961 following the construction of Volta Lake for the development of the Akosombo hydro-electric plant.

Mr. Teye Sabbah, Finance Manager of the Volta Hotel, told the Times during a site inspection to the area officials from the Wildlife Division of the Forestry Commission that, the hotel apart from providing hospitality services also offered cruising services to tourists to the island.

According to him, although the cruising service attracted a large number of both local and foreign tourists, there were no recreational facilities to entertain and satisfy their curiosity.

Mr. Sabbah noted that the project, expected to be implemented by next year, would boost the local economy and create employment opportunities for the indigenes.

He said new pleasure boats in the form of executive, fast and sail boats, were to be acquired to provide variety of services to clients and also to complement the MV Dodi Princess Ferry which had been operating as the only pleasure boat to the island.

Nana Kofi Adu-Nsiah, Executive Director of the Wildlife division of the forestry Commission, said a ranching project to be undertaken by the hotel management with support from thr Division. If successfully implemented, it would be the first in the country.

He asked the public to show interest in wildlife conservation, adding that the ranching project would see the introduction of ostriches, cobs, bush bugs, and duikers among others.

SOURCE:THE GHANAIAN TIMES

Emirates SkyCargo boosts UAE-AFRICA trade route

2011-11-22T04:23:00.000Z

TIG
Emirates SkyCargo, the freight division of Emirates airline, has launched a new service on the United Arab Emirates- Africa trade route which would operate every Friday between Dubai and Ghana.

The service, which would operate with a 117 tonne-capacity Boeing 747-400F, is to support the thriving import and export industry generated by one of the world’s fastest growing economies.

Hiran Perera, Emirates’ Senior Vice President, Cargo Planning & Freighters, in a press release on Monday said “Ghana is booming at the moment – exporting items such as oil and gas equipment, pineapples, mangoes, a variety of vegetables, fresh fish and lobsters- so strengthening our commitment to west Africa with the introduction of this weekly freighter makes great business sense”.

The new service to Kotoka International Airport, which began on November 11 this year, will operate via Lome, Togo, on the outbound journey and return to Dubai through Frankfurt, Germany.

“Ghana is rich in natural resources and is recognised as one of Africa’s leading economies. This economic strength means it will play a pivotal role in the future development of Africa, making it an important trade route with tremendous scope for growth,” added Perera.

He stated that Africa was a key market for Emirates SkyCargo, operating to 20 locations and that they were looking forward to contributing to her continued economic development by facilitating more international trade between the continent and our ever-expanding network of more than 110 destinations with the addition of Harare and Lusaka in 2012.

Goods from Ghana will be distributed from Dubai to locations across the Middle East, Europe, the Far East and the United States. Goods coming into Ghana include electrical equipment, clothing and mobile phones from the Far East and pharmaceuticals from Europe, while freight from Frankfurt to Dubai will include car parts, machinery and a diverse range of general merchandise.

Emirates has been operating a passenger service to Accra, with a weekly cargo capacity of 120 tonnes each way in the bellyhold of an Airbus A330-200, since 2004. In the 2010-11 financial year Emirates SkyCargo carried 1.8 million tonnes of cargo across its network, contributing 17.4 per cent - 2.4 billion dollars of the airline’s total transport revenue.

Emirates SkyCargo currently serves a global route network that spans 116 points in 68 countries, including 13 cargo-only destinations, while 51 of the locations Emirates SkyCargo serves are e-freight compliant.

SOURCE:GNA

KNUST students give meaning to domestic eco-tourism

2011-11-21T15:49:00.000Z

TIG

Some students of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) have embarked on a wide range of activities to raise continuous awareness of conserving and preserving the natural environment.

The final year students of the University’s Culture and Tourism Programme are applying learnt concepts and theories in ecotourism to impact on the livelihood of people in a typical ecotourism community.

Most visits to rural areas are mostly for funeral, political or religious purposes. However, a number of these rural communities are home to the most natural environment, well protected, uncontaminated and of rich cultural heritage.

In today’s stressful workplace environment, people are now looking for relatively undisturbed and uncontaminated areas to appreciate, learn, admire, de-stress and enjoy natural scenery.

The protection of natural resources and the well-being of the communities surrounding these resources are critical to sustaining sources of income and promoting domestic and international tourism.

During a two-day field trip to Bobiri Forest and Butterfly Sanctuary in the Ashanti Region, the KNUST students involved the community members in activities to improve upon their self-worth, including hiking in the butterfly sanctuary, football match with the youth in the community and an interactive session with pupil in the main public school in the community.

Foster Frempong, a lecturer at the KNUST’s Department of Geography and Rural Development led the students on the trip.

He says “the concept of ecotourism should be proclaimed to every individual for community members to protect their resources for sustainable use”.

Tourism has over the years contributed immensely to the Ghana’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and there are lot more potentials yet to be tapped.

Mr. Frempong observed “the need to take a critical look into the country’s protected areas”.

Protected Areas cover more than 12 percent of the world’s land area. Globally, many countries and regions who are rich in biodiversity but poor in economy have vigorously been promoting ecotourism as a conservation tool or measure in protected areas.

He said such measure would push Ghana’s drive to conserve biodiversity and promote eco-tourism.

According to him, the visit has been beneficial to both the community and the students themselves.

“The interaction with the pupils challenged them to learn harder than before so that they can also pursue higher level education and some of the parents expressed their relief from the burden of providing stationery for their wards due to the donation made to them”, stated Mr. Frempong.

He added that “the students also benefited from the cultural exchange with the community members which helped them to erase some of their negative perceptions concerning rural folks”.

The students donated stationery and dustbins to the local school and patronized products and goods produced by the community.

SOURCE: Kofi Adu Domfeh/Luv Fm/Ghana

Court fines farmer for unlawful entry into Ankasa Game Reserve

2011-11-21T08:12:00.000Z

TIG
The Half Assini District Magistrate’s Court has fined a farmer GHȼ360.00 for unlawful entry into the Ankasa Game and Wildlife Reserve in the Jomoro District of the Western Region.

Nicholas Koomson, 64, pleaded guilty to illegal entering the Reserve and entering with equipment capable of being used to destroy animals.

He was fined GHȼ360 on each of the two counts which would run concurrently.Prosecuting Police Inspector Robert Owusu from the Elubo Police Station told the court presided over by Mr Hans Kofi Kpogo that on November 14, officials of the Game and Wildlife Department arrested Koomson in the reserve during their patrol duties.

Inspector Owusu said one shot gun, three live cartridges, a cutlass and other items were found on Koomson, who is 64 years old.The prosecution said the convict was unable to produce any permit when he was questioned by the officials.

The court ordered that the items be confiscated to the state and offered to officials of Game and Wildlife Department.

SOURCE;GNA

2012:Tourism to Recover from Recession

2011-11-21T04:53:00.000Z

TIG
The general outlook for tourism in the whole world, including Europe, is optimistic with tourism experts looking at 2012 with a sense of excitement.

With the recession lodged in recent history and the Eurozone going through its debt crisis, one could be forgiven for thinking that the future of tourism is bleak, especially in Europe.

However, thanks to a mixture of new types of tourism and businesses set to take advantage of problems elsewhere, 2-3% growth is expected in Europe next year and the effect of the uncertain financial climate is expected to be minimal in terms of tourism in Europe.

Firstly, Germany is expected to be unaffected and grow, mostly thanks to the type of tourists Germany attracts. Germany is huge in terms of business tourism and companies will need to grow out of the crisis, leading to more conferences and hotel visits.

Secondly, Southern Europe is expected to pounce on the opportunity to take advantage of political upheaval in North Africa. Greece in particular, for obvious reasons, should not squander the opportunity to grab tourists back from countries such as Tunisia and Egypt.

New brands of tourism are expected to gather impetus to aid the afore-mentioned growth. An example in the UK is the relatively new idea of renting gardens to people. The English pride in terms of gardens is well known and the green backyards may just provide the Brits with the way of looking for extra cash.

Continental Europe is now going through its “luxury without guilt” stage, whereby tourists are willing to pay for cheap trips as long as the environment is considered too. The stigma attached to traveling cheap is slowly disappearing.

SOURCE:TOURISM-REVIEW.COM

African-Americans to reunite with Ghanaian ancestry

2011-11-20T18:29:00.000Z

TIG
Africans who were taken into slavery in America during the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade would be reuniting with their ancestors in one of the biggest ever home coming events to be held next year.

The Centre for African American Genealogical Research, Inc. (CAAGRI), a non-governmental organisation, is spearheading the home coming event aimed at reuniting as many African families in the Diaspora with biological families in Ghana.

The Centre, which launched a project called the Sankofa project in 2004, said DNA tests conducted on 206 Ghanaian men have matched some African-Americans relatives who would be making their journey home next year.

Ms Paula D. Royster, Chief Executive and Founder of CAAGRI said, the Virginia based NGO was in close talk with the Ghana Museums and Monuments Board (GMMB] to assist it to secure Fort Fredericksburg in the Western Region from which to begin the atonement and reconciliation process between the African-Americans and their African cousins.

She said CAAGRI was also collaborating with GMMB to make Ghana the first African country in the world to host the first ever genealogy and Research Centre to be located in the Slave Castle.

"The potential revenue to be generated for the local community as well as the government would be immeasurable", she said.

In one of the DNA tests, according to Ms. Royster, an Nzima King was matched with his cousin in Memphis, Tennessee in the United States. She added that it came to light that Nana Kudumuah IV was his long lost relative.

Ms. Royster said MGRI has digitised more than two million records so far for the Public Records and Archives Administration (PRAA).

She noted that prior to the digitisation project, original documents were being destroyed through constant handling by researchers.

SOURCE:THE SPECTATOR

10 of the world's most loved airports

2011-11-19T06:44:00.000Z

TIG
Really? A small outpost on a remote island in Tierra del Fuego is the fifth most-loved airport in the world?

Strange and subjective as this may seem, it all starts to make sense when you think about how little love there actually is for any airport in the world.

Last week, we ran the 10 most hated airports and that was so much easier -- until guilt set in.

And then confusion. Is it even possible -- let alone appropriate -- to love an airport? Maybe that’s a subject beyond the scope of yet another illuminating Top 10 List, but the following inspired airports definitely deserve a little affection, at least.

10. Auckland Airport, Auckland, New Zealand
Should a first-place Skytrax World Airport Award for the Australia/Pacific region be much reason to gloat when there is not much competition?

When this accolade could likely be extended to most of the Southern Hemisphere -- the answer is yes. Like its rugby team, New Zealand’s mysterious capacity to outperform much bigger places applies to its flagship aviation facility too.

Auckland’s latest renovation has breathed welcome new life into its international terminal, which offers a swift E-gate system and an award-winning commercial property overhaul that includes several new dining options and A-list retailers, including Apple and MAC cosmetics.

Then there’s the “Kiwi geniality factor,” which in an airport that now supports over 20 international carriers, is more than just about free Steinlager beer on long haul Air New Zealand flights. “When we asked airport staff for directions here,” notes one passenger, “we were actually walked to the location in question.”

9. Montevideo Carrasco, Montevideo, Uruguay
Finding contentment in virtually any airport in the Americas usually depends mainly on the book and/or beverage in your hand. One of the few exceptions to this rule is now hiding in Uruguay, which garners the kind of air passenger enthusiasm that Buenos Aires, Belize City or Baltimore can’t even fathom.

“This airport is breathtakingly beautiful, spotless clean, and efficient,” writes one recent passenger at airline and airport review site, airlinequality.com.

“Attractive architecture, spacious, clean, lots of light. Smooth check-in, security control and immigration,” gushes another. “Try the small coffee shop next to Gate 8 with an outdoor terrace!”

People passing through Montevideo are digging its airport’s sleek, glassy, curvaceous US$165 million makeover which was completed a couple of years ago and will surely score a cameo in "Up in the Air 2."

In a building this bright and shiny, even things that might bum passengers out in regular airports (What, no fast food court?) just make this one seem even more sophisticated.

Amenities include a full-service restaurant and third-floor observation deck with long, sunny views that thankfully don’t reach Sao Paolo-Garulhos even on a clear day.
8. Victoria International, Victoria, Canada
Canada’s favorite little regional airport has earned its stripes on a reputation for ease, efficiency and friendliness, along with some value-added quirks that no other airport in the world would ever bother to think about.

Like, for example, hosting a special “chocolatier” exhibit or unveiling a 2.5-kilometer bike path around the perimeter.

Tucked in a scenic peninsula on Vancouver Island about 20 minutes from mercilessly pleasant downtown Victoria and a picturesque ferry ride from mainland British Columbia, Victoria “International” (the moniker derives from connections to SeaTac and San Francisco) handles well over a million annual domestic and U.S. passengers.

That’s a lot for a terminal with nine little gates, three luggage carousels and a cozy glassy atrium. But it doesn’t feel like it. “I was out within 10 minutes of the plane touching down,” says one recent passenger. Bottom line: this is the way everyone envisions entering Canada, and almost never does.

7. Zurich Airport, Zurich, Switzerland
OK, so maybe not everyone loves Switzerland’s largest airport when they’re getting squeezed onto the Skymetro to Terminal E, grilled by a hair-splitting security officer, or paying through the teeth for a puny sandwich.

But it’s a speedy train ride, security’s just doing its job and you could eat your lunch off the floor here.

Zurich continues to offer the sort of spotless, well-run, no-nonsense flying experience that passengers realize they love when they’re having a much worse time at another airport.

Recent expansion projects, renovations and increasing crowds may have hampered the facility’s cuckoo-clock efficiency rep of late, but projects here -- like new terminals, observation decks, a children’s airport-themed play area -- actually get done.

From the airport, there are few better train systems connecting passengers to the rest of Europe.

And few other airports are routinely decorated with as many consumer-oriented awards as Zurich, which placed first in this year’s World Travel Awards, first in Europe (second in the world) in last year’s Business Traveller Awards and third in Europe in the 2010 Consumer Awards.

6. Tampa International, Tampa, United States
Never mind aviational blights like LAX or MIA that live down to their acronyms; it’s a shame those sturdier major U.S. hubs don’t get more respect. Atlanta-Hartsfield, Chicago-O’Hare, Dallas-Fort Worth.

These behemoths decently convey some of the largest, hardest-to-please throngs of air travelers on earth, who rag on them constantly.

Mid-sized American airports tend to fare better -- in random places like Portland, Oregon, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Hartford, Connecticut and (all kidding aside) Detroit -- which get some due appreciation in the public eye.

The open-air walkways at Honolulu and Maui also earn raves -- though, given their location and high percentage of travelers coming specifically to brighten their moods, any Hawaiian airport has a bit of an unfair advantage.

But Tampa, home of the first Landside/Airside Terminal Complex structure, a frequent Global Airport Efficiency Award winner, and recipient of a Second Best Airport in the World in an aging J.D. Powers & Assoc. customer satisfaction survey, takes the lion’s share of shout-outs.

Travelers through Tampa continue to wax on about its efficient, tram-connected wheel-spoked design that ends all running to distant gates (Denver, are you listening?), its affable Floridian staff that aren’t like those tired, moody cadavers in Orlando, its tasteful galleria of stores, boutiques and restaurants that wouldn’t dare deprive waiting passengers of a Ron Jon Surf Shop.

The only frequent beef here is that no major airline has elected to make this place its hub. But if Tampa is smart, it won’t be going there any time soon.

5. Ushuaia-Malvinas Argentinas International, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina
The world is dotted with cruddy, old air terminals plunked in the middle of nowhere, seducing passengers with their wild natural surroundings, hair-raising 50-meter runways and pimply teenage luggage crews.

But the modern, chalet-ish facility nestled on the outskirts of Ushaia between the Martial Mountains and the Beagle Channel on the bottom of the civilized world (aka “the world’s southernmost international airport in the world’s southernmost town”) is an inspired-looking, 747-friendly place.

All slick gable roof and broad timber-beamed interior, you’d half-expect to find a ski boot rental counter in the basement.

There isn’t one. But the lounge is quite nice, the bar is open, the Wi-Fi’s on the house and there’s a respectable duty free shop. Not bad for an outpost serving mainly as a gateway to Patagonia, Antarctica and the Falklands.

Airports like Jackson Hole could learn something here. And your arrival is nearly as dramatic as descending over the Tetons -- with sweet views of the lower Andes before rolling onto a rugged archipelago on the edge of the habitable planet.

4. Munich Airport, Munich, Germany
Now that Lufthansa’s second base (after bigger, busier, far less loved Frankfurt) has swiftly grown into a major international airport facing its own capacity issues and contentious third runway plans, it could easily succumb to the stress-inducing foibles of other award-winning European hubs -- like Amsterdam (nice leather sofas, but what’s with the lines?) and Copenhagen (is this an airport or a shopping mall with a sauna?).

But so far, so good.

Munich’s 1990s-era Terminal 1 is younger, fresher-looking and better organized than most terminal 2s and 3s on the planet. Its second terminal, home to Lufthansa and Star Alliance members, is arranged around a bright, central plaza that makes LHR and CDG look purgatorial.

Smack in the middle, the facility’s airy shopping and recreation area -- Munich Airport Centre -- is easily accessible to all passengers without feeling pushy.

A “Bavarian hospitality” ethos here means this is one of the few airports on either side of the Atlantic where a no-frills T2 passenger can enjoy free tea and coffee and a T1er can happily sit out a flight delay at Air Bräu, a micro-brew worthy of a college town.

3. Seoul Incheon, Seoul, Korea
At 10 years young, South Korea’s pin-up airport continues to wow passengers with its bright and airy arrival halls, its futuristic connecting train terminal, its Pine Tree and Wildflower gardens and its boggling array of amenities that include private sleeping rooms, free showers, round-the-clock spa facilities, ubiquitous Internet lounges, a golf course and an ice skating rink.

And all this without forgetting why most people actually come to airports: not so much to work on their double axels or putting, but to get somewhere else as quickly and painlessly as possible.

Crowned as the world’s top airport in the annual, customer-survey-based Airport Service Quality Awards, ICN is one of only three in the world with a full five-star Skytrax rating -- along with the next two airports on this list.

Why is Seoul number three? Bring Cirque du Soleil here and we’ll see about next year.

In the meantime, check out the traditional Korean music performances or acrobatic shows on the first floor open stage. And don’t forget to swing by the Korean Culture Museum.

“It was nice to see several cultural experiences placed around the terminal,” writes one airlinequality.com passenger. “How many of us go through an airport and learn nothing of the country we are in?”

2. Singapore Changi, Singapore
Is there a bigger compliment to an airport than travelers routinely scheduling more time here just to have fun and relieve stress?

Spotless, flawlessly organized and stocked with conveniences that continue to lock Singapore for the gold, silver or (in an off-year marred by constructing more improvements) bronze in every serious annual airport poll, here’s the place that re-invented what airports can be.

That is -- places with pools, whirlpool baths and massage tables, prayer rooms and rooftop bars, LAN gaming areas and free movie theaters, koi ponds and butterfly gardens.

Changi’s massive interiors may require some hiking -- on efficient travelators or shuttle trains -- to distant gates or between terminals. But as long as you’re not running to catch a flight, it’s no O’Hare or Heathrow-style headache. More like a tour of what an elite international airport can and should be.

Above all, it’s the mandated comfort factor here that’s most appreciated by passengers gravitating to relaxation lounges or, in a pinch, reclining slumber chairs with flat-screen TVs spread throughout the terminal floors.

Based on its four C voting criteria -- Comfort, Convenience, Cleanliness and Customer service -- Sleeping in Airports has granted SIN its coveted Golden Pillow Award for 15 straight years.

1. Hong Kong International, Hong Kong
Now that its place as one of the great land reclamation projects of the 20th century is, well, 20th-century, HKIA is onto newer benchmarks -- including entering the world’s 50 million annual passenger club (shared with only 10 other airports) and becoming the busiest freight airport on earth.

This kind of pressure might sink a less inspired or prepared facility (the airport currently has a multi-phase Master Plan 2030 in the works which will see it through the next couple decades), but Hong Kong keeps looking better and more five-star functional with everything thrown at it.

And not just for cargo carriers, but for more than 900 daily flights’ worth of satisfied travelers whisking through this foolproof hub -- offering loads of opportunities for lounging, golfing, fine-dining, 4-D movie theater-ing, free Wi-Fi’ing and simply wishing that this year’s Skytrax World Airport of the Year could be replicated in London, Paris, New York, Juneau … anywhere outside of Asia.

Considered one of the most accessible airports in operation today, Hong Kong’s swift and driverless Automated People Mover is both ultra-convenient and kind-of-forbidding.

Hong Kong’s express train service to/from downtown offers remote check-in and has reinvented just how simple it should be to reach or depart a remote-looking airport. That is, if you ever want to depart.

SOURCE:CNN//cnngo.com

Ghanaians Asked to Appreciate Domestic Tourism-Minister

2011-11-18T11:58:00.000Z

TIG

The Minister of Tourism and MP for North Dayi Mrs. Akua Sena Dansua has admonished the citizenry to appreciate their own attractions in Ghana in order to help promote domestic tourism.

The Minister was speaking at a day’s stakeholder’s forum to promote domestic tourism through Junior and Senior high schools. The forum under the theme, “Every child, a Tourism Enthusiast”, is centered on tourism as a development strategy to help achieve the eighth target of the Millennium Development Goals’ and also to engender national unity and cohesion amongst one another. She tasked Ghanaians to make time out of their busy schedules and social activities to patronize tourist attractions in their areas or regions. She said the project will initially be on pilot basis where 20 schools will be drawn from the ten regions and subsequently expanded countrywide.

She recalled how the Asians had benefited immensely from domestic tourism and has also helped foster national cohesion. She opined that, the use of domestic tourism to promote and integrate the county is a noble project that all must embrace if we are to develop the domestic tourism component.

The North Dayi MP also emphasized that the project would not bring about the creation of new curriculum activities in the school. She assured participants and stakeholders about the backing of the Parliamentary select committee on Trade, Industry and Tourism. She also used the occasion to outline how the select committee is planning to take the business committee of Parliament on a trip to Dodi Islands to further give more impetus to their case.

On his part, director of projects at the Ministry of Tourism, Dr Joel Sonne delivered a power point presentation on the project spelling out the time lines for the project. He said the project is expected to start in the first quarter of 2011 and by 2013, the stakeholders will pause to evaluate and see the achievements and challenges. He also said this project will seek to enhance students’ knowledge and their understanding of their cultural values. Dr. Sonne stressed that, the students can be ambassadors of tourism and emphasizes that, ‘’the catch them young’’ model will work very effectively when carefully managed. He said in countries where tourism was thriving, it was because they had a strong domestic tourism market.

The Director of Tertiary in the Ministry of Education, Mrs. Mary Quaye said the Ministry was excited when the Ministry of Tourism approached them with this noble project. She said using the youth as a model to champion domestic tourism will be the right approach since it will afford them the time to imbibe the culture of travelling and knowing the getting abreast with the various attraction sites. Mrs. Quaye said education without skills left students with a very narrow mind saying, the project would automatically help promote practical learning in the educational system.

She also reiterated that, this project would not mean creating a new curriculum but rather be added to their co curricular activities.

Participants and stakeholders from the Ghana Tourism Authority, the Ministry of Tourism, the security agencies, tourism clubs, the informal sector, national service secretariat, Game changers and the media were put in groups to put forward their opinions and suggestions about the program.

Source: Kojo Bentum-Williams,GTA

Kenya Minister and UNWTO Secretary-General discuss the Organization’s priorities for 2012

2011-11-18T04:18:00.000Z

TIG

The Minister of Tourism of Kenya, Najib Balala, met with UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai, to debate the priorities for the work of the Organization in 2012 as Kenya takes the chairmanship of the UNWTO Executive Council (11 November 2011).

“We are honored and humbled on being given this mandate as chair of the UNWTO Executive Council,” said Mr. Balala. “In collaboration and with the blessing of the Secretary-General, we intend to push a 3-tier agenda of travel facilitation through e-visas, unfair taxation affecting travel adversely (APD) and recognition of tourism as a national priority sector by all governments.”

“UNWTO is very pleased to see Kenya, as the new Chairman of our executive body, actively engaged in advancing the agenda set by the General Assembly in key issues such as travel facilitation,” said Mr. Rifai. “This subject was also highlighted at the last UNWTO/World Travel Market Ministers’ Summit in London as an effective means to stimulate travel demand, particularly at a moment where some economies face mounting economic difficulties, and will surely be one of high importance to all our members and the tourism community at large.”

Minister Balala met with UNWTO high officials during his visit to UNWTO Headquarters in Madrid to discuss in detail the work of the Executive Council for the coming year.

Kenya was elected Chairman of the UNWTO Executive for 2012 during the 19th session of the General Assembly held last October in the Republic of Korea.

SOURCE:UNWTO

Saltpond-Bakado To Celebrate Ayerye Festival

2011-11-17T04:53:00.000Z

TIG
The Chiefs, Elders, Queen Mothers and people of Twafo Divisional Council of Saltpond-Bakado of Nkusukum Traditional area in the Central Region will climax the Ayerye festival on 30th November to 3rd December.

In a letter addressed, it said the Chiefs and Elders of Twafoman of Nkusukum Traditional area created the Saltpond-Bakado Development Committee (SABADECOM) under the able leadership of Nana Gyan Ankwanda IV, the Akyenfo-Bakadohen and Twafohen of Nkusukum Traditional Council to brainstorm, plan and bring to fruition all developmental activities of Saltpond-Bakado.

The letter continued that, it was also worthy to note that Saltpond happened to be the place where Ghana had the formation of its first organized political parties (i.e UGCC and CPP). A place where Ghana had its first tarred street with bitumen and first Seaport and also a place where Ghana’s first President Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah began his political career.

In an interview with the Event Organizer of SABADECOM, Mr. Paa Kwesi, he said the festival is celebrated to bring developmental projects to the District in creating job opportunities for the youth that forms the greater population in Ghana.

He said the traditional leaders would take this opportunity to create an educational endowment fund, establish a modern Assembly Hall for the district.

He said the festival will bring to together sons and daughters of the land and very distinguished guests will also be there to grace the occasion, which will include the Vice President of Ghana, Mr John Dramani Mahama, Former Prez J.A Kufour, Nana Akufo Addo, the Central Regional Minister, Ama Benyiwa Doe, Ministers of State and the MP of the area, Dr Aquinas Quansah, Former MP Mr Asamoah Boateng, Dr Papa Kwesi Nduom, Traditional leaders and many distinguished guests.

The theme for the festival is christened, “Together We Can”.
The objective of the Ayerye festival is to bring all the citizens and well-wishers of Saltpond-Bakado together. The Ayerye will be used to promote and highlight all the good things about Saltpond and to revive and rekindle the soul and spirit of Saltpond-Bakado.

TOURISM IN THE HEADLINES

2011-11-16T21:10:00.000Z

TIG

Tourism is the World’s largest industry. It can be an economic locomotive bringing employment, economic growth and earnings in foreign currency. The industry has established itself as a world major, which offers significant opportunities for employment creation, local economic development and the integration of international markets. Thereby becoming one of the driving forces of global employment, economic security and social well-being of the 21st century. Today, the sector represents 5% of global GDP, one in twelve jobs worldwide, and 30% of the world’s exports of services, ranking fourth after fuels, chemicals and automotive products.

Tourism has served this great country of ours very well, but yet it has not been accorded the right recognition it deserves especially with respect to what I term’ TOURISM IN THE NEWS’’. Most often we only tend to hear about tourism when there are major events approaching yet it is one of the sectors that hold the trump card to the alleviation of poverty both for the rural and urban poor with special emphasis on the youth and women.

Tourism facilities and structures alone do not attract and creates the job opportunities and investment vibe/opportunities for the country and the tourist enclave to be more specific.
The global challenge of media to the industry prompted the international mother organization United Nation World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) to put together a day’s conference under the theme ‘’TOURISM IN THE HEADLINES’’ with support of the Croatian government.
During the conference, major pronouncements came to the fore of which one of the significant issues was about creating an active dialogue between tourism administrations, the private sector and the media on global tourism development, with a focus on improving access to quality information and increased collaboration and understanding between all involved.

Even events like the US presidents paying a visit to Ghana and particularly to the cape coast castle was not given the leverage in terms of the touristic value. Lots of the discussions centered on the first black African presidents paying a visit to Ghana regardless of his own roots in Kenya. Another example to buttress this point is how often, you don’t have a media house dedicating lengthy time of their programs discussing tourism.
It is one of the reasons why, though Ghana was listed as part of Frommer’s top ten tourism destinations for 2012, yet was for the Ghana Tourism Authority to put a press conference together to inform the general public and the world at large.

Given its undisputed economic, social and environmental relevance, tourism deserves a level of editorial recognition which is only slowly emerging. Media coverage has traditionally limited tourism to the travel pages, overlooking the sector’s capacity to provide skills, revenue and growth to local economies, particularly in developing countries.

Sometimes a tourism establishment is given the hype in the news, only when the entire generality of the story is sensational, i.e. a big man, politician, or a clergyman/woman is caught up in a scandal which has something to do with a particular hotel, guest house or lodge.
Even in developed Countries where tourism is more or less thriving than the developing world, tourism reportage is sadly reduced to flights/aviation news and some selected tourist sites. This goes to buttress the point of the problem not only peculiar to Ghana and other developing countries but the entire globe.

In Ghana same cannot be said of us. The media is one of the major stakeholders in the tourism industry if we are to say purge the sector of the miscreants in the sector.
Most of us will be struggling if we were to be asked to cast our minds back when we heard about tourism reportage on its own in the media apart from the obvious special occasions like the UNWTO DAY, PRESS CONFERENCES AND OTHER ONES. Yet this sector plays a key and vital role in the development of the country.

Increasing media coverage of tourism, and enhancing its accuracy, will result in greater awareness and support for the sector among not only the general public, but decision makers and the business world.

A strong working partnership is required between the tourism community and the media, to understand, support and strengthen the sector and maximize its contribution to global prosperity and well-being. In doing that, the sector will be in the news most often and it will help streamline the industry to compete with the best in the world.

Raising awareness of the overall value of tourism, going beyond the tourism sector, among the business community and general public through the media would make people appreciate the industry.

In moving forward, I believe the media will embrace new initiatives where for example a minute/quarter of a space will be dedicated to tourism coverage and reporting. It has to be emphasized that, the media is a key stakeholder in the development agenda of tourism.
As I wind down this piece, I would like to express appreciation to the media who extensively covered the last weekend’s Ghana Tourism Authority’s press conference on Frommer’s top ten list and the subsequent stories of Ghana’s showing at the just ended World Travel Market 2011.

Kojo Bentum-Williams,GTA
kojofabio@gmail.com
www.tourisminghana.blogspot.com

10 of the world's most hated airports

2011-11-16T20:45:00.000Z

TIG

There’s a special form of loathing reserved for a building that forces you to remove your shoes, wait in line, get groped, shell out for bad food and dash in a panic to an arbitrarily changed gate before canceling your flight.

But let’s be clear. The most hated airports in the world are not the worst airports in the world.

For that you’ll have to consult Lonely Planet or fly to destinations the majority of us have little need to pin on a map or pronounce properly.

To come up with our admittedly unscientific list, we canvassed travel websites, blogs and message boards. And called on memories of our own travel nightmares.

What follow are 10 majorly despised international hubs (or hopefuls) that, while they may have a few staunch fans, and some have even won awards, have all inspired enough fury, flak and “never again” air-rage to merit a place on this list.

10. São Paulo-Guarulhos International, São Paulo, Brazil
Why is this place on our list after scoring third best airport in South America at the 2011 World Airport Awards?

Because, shockingly enough, it turns out that corporate medal ceremonies aren’t always in sync with what people are thinking when they're standing in two-hour immigration lines, suffering routinely unannounced gate changes and paying through the teeth for a stale Brazilian cheese roll and beer inside an understaffed and over-aged aviation facility.

In a country where flight delays (departing or arriving) are just part of the deal, some recent numbers would give pause to the most unflappable traveler at Brazil’s largest airport.

Just 41 percent of all flights leave on time. Only 59 percent of flights arrive on schedule, according to Forbes.

São Paulo-Guarulhos has announced plans to add runways and terminals -- what airport hasn’t? -- but with nearly 30 million passengers traipsing through every year (the figure has reportedly doubled in under a decade) the urgency is palpable and, sadly enough, unsolved by upping prices at musty duty-free shops.

But does this really constitute bronze medal status? When the best unofficial advice for surviving Brazil’s pin-up airport is to try and learn a little Portuguese and not lose your temper, something’s gotta give.

9. Perth Airport, Perth, Australia

If there’s one thing Australians love, it’s hating their airports.

But while the big guns in Sydney, Melbourne and also-rans in Darwin, Cairns and Hobart get routinely lambasted for various inefficiencies and rip-off tactics, passengers in Western Australia have a special place in their spleens for Perth.

“The only advantage over some other airports is the lack of nearby combat,” notes one of several miffed passengers on airportquality.com.

With a reviled pair of domestic terminals (home of two-hour taxi-line queues, atrocious check-in lines, overpopulated gates and meager lounges) and a slightly more palatable international terminal five kilometers away, Perth’s brittle facilities can be overwhelmed just by a trio of aircraft arriving within 20 minutes of each other.

Now that an ambitious “billion-dollar” redevelopment project has been significantly scaled back, who would ever want to leave Changi for this place?

8. Tribhuvan International, Kathmandu, Nepal

For a small airport in a pretty country, Tribhuvan has it all: the interminable weather delays of Boston Logan, the shoddy restroom maintenance of a Glasgow sports bar, the departure board sparsity of McMurdo Airfield and the chronic chaos of a kids' soccer match.

Some airport improvements have been underway for the Visit Nepal 2011 tourism campaign, including things most passengers don’t much care about (e.g., the new helicopter base).

The most serious beefs with Nepal’s only international airport revolve around its primitive yet officious check-in procedure, starring a roulette wheel of underpaid security agents.

“Departure is an endless game of body searches and silly questions,” notes one passenger.

“Those who didn’t have their e-tickets printed out had to argue their way in,” says another, who was checked seven times and scolded for not having a baggage tag on a carry-on before eventually boarding.

Never mind. The city’s markets and surrounding mountains are lovely.

7. John F. Kennedy International, New York, United States

You’d think it would be one of the greatest humiliations any major airport would never allow itself to live down -- getting routinely abandoned by fed-up folks opting to fly out of Newark (Newark!) instead, where at least the ground staff cop less attitude and fewer people outside are pretending to be cab drivers.

But, nah, JFK really couldn’t really care less.

Every year, more than 21 million passengers stumble through worn, mid-century terminals that peaked when The Beatles arrived in the United States and rooftop parking was all the rage; JFK proudly remains the world’s busiest international air gateway.

So if you’re not into a dim, surly, unbearably congested airport reeking with attitude and unapologetically long immigration lines -- good riddance.

“JFK had a piece of my luggage sitting in a little detention room for bags -- for over a year,” notes one passenger. “No one noticed it was there, until finally an observant Air France employee wondered what the dusty little green bag in the corner was.”

6. Jomo Kenyatta International, Nairobi, Kenya

“As African airports go, it’s not that bad -- but as an international hub, it may be one of the worst out there.”

This is the common refrain among travelers through JKIA, who either don’t have the heart or the expectations to give this dated aviation facility the kind of pounding reserved for the JFKs and Charles de Gaulles of the world.

Saddled with a 1958 blueprint designed for 2.5 million passengers, JKIA receives close to twice that many. Hence the airport’s 2005, Three Phase, US$100 million expansion project which has seen long delays (something about the rain) and has been spinning its tires somewhere in Phase Two for the last few years.

For now, that means business as usual: cramped spaces; long lines; inadequate seating; frequent power outages; tiny washrooms hiding up several flights of stairs; shabby duty free shops; overpriced food outlets; and business class lounges worthy of a shelter in mid-city Los Angeles.
Sure, it’s a breeze compared to Lagos. But it could be so much better. The confusing result: grateful disappointment?

5. Ninoy Aquino International, Manila, Philippines

Beleaguered by ground crew strikes, unkempt conditions, soup kitchen-style lines that feed into more lines and an overall sense of futility, NAIA brings the term “Stuck in the 1970s” to a new level.

At Terminal 1 all non-Philippine Airlines remain crammed despite serious overcapacity issues and a new and underused Terminal 3 is occupied by a few minor carriers.

A rash of bad press this year (including a “Worst in the World” ribbon from Sleeping in Airports) was capped by a collapsed ceiling in T1, a paralyzing ground service strike at T2, and the usual charges of tampered luggage, filthy restrooms, seat shortages at gates, re-sealed water bottles sold in retail shops and an Amazing Race-style check-in routine spiked with bureaucracy, broken escalators, lengthy Dot Matrix passenger lists and creative airport departure fees.

4. Toncontín International, Tegucigalpa, Honduras

When do the most common airport gripes about inefficiency, uncomfortable gate chairs, dirty floors and lousy dining options suddenly become irrelevant? When you’re preoccupied about whether your 757 will actually be able to stop before the runway does.

Nestled in a bowl-shaped valley at 957 meters above sea level, Toncontín’s notoriously stubby, mountain-cloaked landing strip was recently lengthened another 300 meters following a fatal TACA aircraft overshoot in 2008.

Not enough though to avoid being named the “second most dangerous airport in the world” by the History Channel.

Nepal’s hair-raising Tenzing-Hillary Airport in the Himalayas is the top seed, but receives fewer gripes from its thrill-seeking Everest-bound clientele.

3. London Heathrow, London, England

Depending on which of Heathrow’s five terminals one is funneled through, the average experience at the world’s third-busiest airport ranges from mildly tedious to "Fawlty Towers" ridiculous.

With its rash of -- as they were politely called -- “teething problems” in bright and airy T5 (remember that riotous grand opening with 34 canceled flights?) and nicely matured problems in Ts 1, 2 and 3, the issues passengers are beset with run the gamut.

Parking messes. Busted baggage carousels. Deadlocked security lines. Long walks (or, more commonly, runs) between gates to a frenzied soundtrack of “last call” announcements. Realizations that getting out of Heathrow took longer than actually flying here from Madrid.

In the airport “where the world changes planes,” it all boils down to a chronic inability to cope with this many people. Plans for a sixth terminal should help sever even more nerves.

2. Los Angeles International Airport, Los Angeles, United States

If the world’s seventh-busiest flight hub was an old ballpark resting on the stale reputation of its Dodger Dogs and that great 1959 series, LAX might have some endearment value.

But it’s an airport -- a dramatically undersized and moribund one with the architectural élan of a 1960s correctional facility and several publicized concerns about how its 1,700 takeoffs and landings a day can be sustained in a facility a fifth the size of healthier cousins like Dallas/Fort Worth.

The unsupportive donut-shaped design -- it’s been called “eight terminals connected by a traffic jam” -- makes dashing between airlines feel like a diesel-scented cardio test.

Plunked in the middle is the airport’s landmark Jetsons-style restaurant and only mentionable amenity, Encounter, but how does one actually get inside this place -- at least before being nailed for a petty traffic violation by some of the most ticket-hungry airport cops west of the Mississippi?

1. Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Paris, France

“A great country worthy of the name,” President Charles de Gaulle once opined, “does not have any friends.”

True or not, it’s this sort of attitude that has helped CDG become the most maligned major airport on earth. What’s fueling it?

Grimy washrooms with missing toilet seats don’t help. Nor do broken scanning machines and an overall lack of signage, gate information screens and Paris-worthy bars, restaurants or cafés.

The baffling circular layout is worsened by warrens of tunnel-like structures, dismissive staff and seething travelers waiting forever in the wrong queue.

The worst part may be this airport’s aura of indifference to it all. “Waiting for a connection here,” notes one commuter, “is like being in custody.”

If you’re actually staying in Paris, you may be okay. If you have the gall to just be passing through between Malaga and Montreal, you can cut the spite of this place with a cheese knife.

SOURCE:CNNGO.COM

Tourism: well positioned to foster women´s empowerment and gender equality

2011-11-16T15:48:00.000Z

TIG
Ministers of tourism, entrepreneurs and representatives of non-governmental organizations shed light on the many opportunities and barriers facing women in the tourism sector at UNWTO’s event on Gender and Sustainable Tourism Development: Exploring the Links at the World Travel Market (London, UK,9 November 2011),

The event aimed to raise the profile of gender issues in tourism and featured a presentation of the Global Report on Women in Tourism 2010, a joint study by UNWTO and UN Women, followed by interventions from representatives of the public and private sectors, as well as civil society.

Panelists shared their views and experiences on the important role of tourism in promoting women´s empowerment and discussed this link in light of the main themes of the Global Report – Employment, Entrepreneurship, Leadership, Education and Community.

The event was opened by UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai, who stressed that while tourism is a strong vehicle for women’s economic empowerment, much remains to be done to achieve the third Millennium Development Goal - empowering women and achieving gender equality (MDG 3) - and to effectively ensure the respect of women´s rights.

The Minister of Tourism of Paraguay, Liz Cramer Campos, offered valuable insight into her personal experience as a female leader at the helm of her country’s tourism sector. Subsequently, Angela Handjipateras, Founder and Co-Director of a community-based lodge in Mozambique and member of the Central America Women´s Network (CAWN), related her experience of running a “gender sensitive” community lodge in Mozambique, and highlighted how patriarchal attitudes and male resistance at the community level can sometimes hinder attempts to realize gender equality.

Zainab Answell, Director of the tour operator Zara Tanzanian Adventures, recounted how she became one of the most prominent entrepreneurs in Tanzania, overcoming the “belief that women are supposed to stay at home and take care of children”, rather than to “contribute to public life or to benefit the economy” by moving up the corporate ladder.

Participants agreed on the need for well-strategized, persistent and concerted efforts and emphasized the importance of raising awareness on gender issues in the tourism sector. “We need to convince tour operators, hotel managers and the private sector that equality in their companies means good business,” stressed UNWTO Executive Director, Zoltan Somogyi. “We must persuade communities that supporting the economic empowerment of women will benefit their entire community and help lift them out of poverty. We should strive tirelessly to ensure proper regulations and incentives in the public sector to redress gender inequalities.”

The occasion closed with calls to build on the findings of the UNWTO/UN Women Global Report and to ensure that data on gender is regularly collected worldwide so as to track the real progress of women in the tourism sector.

SOURCE:UNWTO

Delta Airline begins Accra to Abuja operation

2011-11-16T04:30:00.000Z

TIG
Delta Air lines, the 2011 world most admired airline, is to begin flight operations from Accra to Abuja on December 1st next month.

This follows Delta’s partnership with Air Nigeria to start the service between Accra’s Kotoka International Airport and the Abuja’s Nmamdi Azikiwe International Airport.

The service will operate weekly using Boeing 767-300ER aircraft, equipped with 36 Business Elite seats, 29 seats in Economy Comfort and 143 seats in economy.

Delta’s Commercial Manager, East and West Africa, Mr Bobby Bryan announcing in Accra on Tuesday, said the company will also launch in Accra in December its Protocol Services as part of a $2 billion investment plan, which will redesign Delta’s entire customer service experience in the country.

Delta’s Protocol Service that aims at providing better customer experience, was launched in Abuja last month.

The $2 billion investment to span 2013 is to improve airport facilities and Delta’s global products, service and technology to enhance customer experience in the air and on the ground.

The new Accra-Abuja flight, he said, meant Delta now offers non-stop service from Accra to four international cities. The other three cities are Atlanta in New York; Monrovia in Liberia; and Dakar in Senegal.

“With the ongoing support of our partner Air Nigeria, our Abuja service will provide more travel options for our Ghanaian customers as well as facilitate business and commercial Ghana and Nigeria,” Mr Bryan said.

The company, he added, would also launch full-flat bed seat on Accra-New York–JFK service.
Delta also today launch in Accra its fifth anniversary in Africa expected to be celebrated in Ghana, Senegal and South Africa.

SOURCE:GNA

GHANA DAZZLES AT WORLD TRAVEL FAIR IN LONDON

2011-11-12T20:18:00.000Z

TIG

Ghanaian royalty, music, souvenirs and snacks were on offer for sampling as ‘Ghana Day’ was marked at the ongoing World Tourism Fair in the UK. For four hours Exhibition Hall A 290 came to a near halt as hundreds of exhibitors from other stands and visitors converged round Ghana’s zone.

The country’s cute but effective stand was draped in lively and colourful images of kente, Cape Coast Castle, a traditional chief in palanquin, Kakum Park and the Black Stars team in the heat of football action. A TV plasma screen also beamed sights and sounds of Ghana.

Just as all thought Ghana had out-shone its neighbours, arrived international football star Asamoah Gyan. ‘It’s good you have come to identify with your country, Asamoah’ was told by Hon. Akua Sena Dansua, Minister of Tourism who received the football star to the stands.

As if on cue, the DJ slotted in Castro and Asamoah Gyan’s hiplife ‘Ghana Girls’ sending an excited crowd into a dance ecstasy. Dresses in a blue long sleeved shirt over jeans, Gyan was clearly overwhelmed by a crowd that is not cheering him to score a goal but promote his country’s tourism. ‘It feels nice to be here’, the soccer star said. ‘Ghana is a beauty country and we should all be proud’. Asamoah plays as a striker for Al Ain in the United Arab Emirates, on loan from Sunderland.

Other dignitaries who participated in the fair were Prof Danso-Boafo, High Commissioner to the UK, Hon. Alhaji Amadu Sorogho, Chairman, Parliamentary select Committee on Tourism, Hon. Kofi Osei, Hon Gifty Klenam and Mrs. Emelia Brew-Butler Executive Director Ghana Tourism Development Company.

‘Ghana Day’ is a PR and social activity targeted at increasing interaction between the country’s exhibitors and clients at the travel fair. It is designed as an open house to communicate places, events and activities that depict Ghana as a tourist destination. Among the crowd were tour operators, hoteliers media personnel and suppliers in the tourism business from different parts of the world. Also in attendance were individuals who had come to learn more about the country they hope to visit one day.

While some visitors were busily grabbing chinchinga and kelewele to eat others danced to hiplife, kete, kpanlogo and borborbor music that cracked through the British autumn air.

Earlier in an interview with National Geographic Hon. Akua Sena Dansua said that Ghana is growing at a very fast pace thereby creating better opportunity for tourism investment. In another interview with Pedigree Media the Minister of Tourism listed the country’s strong points to include a vibrant culture, diverse ecotourism resources and a generally safe friendly environment. ‘The discovery of oil, growth in investment and the recent opening of Movenpick Hotel are all positive indicators for the business travel segment’’ she added.

The World Travel Market is the leading travel fair on the globe. Overall, total attendance on the first day at WTM 2011 was 8 percent up on WTM 2010 with almost 23,000 (22,913) participants, with exhibitors 4 percent higher than last year’s.

Ghana was represented at the Four day-fair by both public and private sector exhibitors including Ghana Tourism Authority, Ghana Tourism Development Company and Ghana Airports Company Limited. The rest were Sunseekers Tours, Scorpion Travel and Tours, Land Tours, Seasons Tours and GIFEC.

SOURCE:KOFI AKPABLI, (London),/GHANA TOURISM AUTHORITY

Egypt closes Great Pyramid amid 11/11/11 rumours

2011-11-11T22:43:00.000Z

TIG
Egypt has closed the Great Pyramid outside Cairo after rumours that groups would try to hold special rituals on 11 November at 11:11 (09:11 GMT).

The rumours sparked an internet campaign to stop any ceremonies.

However the head of Egypt's antiquities authority said the pyramid had been closed until Saturday morning for "necessary maintenance" only.

The Great Pyramid houses the ancient tomb of the Pharaoh Khufu. Two nearby pyramids and the Sphinx remained open.

Security was tightened across the entire complex, Associated Press news agency said, with dozens of police officers and armed soldiers on patrol.

After 11:11, the director of the pyramids complex, Ali al-Asfar, said nothing unusual had happened.

"Everything is normal," he told AP.

"The only thing different is the closure of the Khufu pyramid."

Both he and the head of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, Mustafa Amin, said the pyramid was closed for maintenance after the large number of visitors during the Eid al-Adha holiday last week.

Reports of planned ceremonies at the site were "completely lacking in truth," Mr Amin said.

But the rumours had sparked an internet protest campaign to block any rituals "within the walls of the pyramid on November 11, 2011," Atef Abu Zahab, the head of the Department of Pharaonic Archaeology, told AFP news agency.

The pyramid is the biggest and most famous of the Giza monuments and is the last of the seven wonders of the ancient world still standing.

Numerologists have been excitedly awaiting the alignment of ones on Friday, believing the date holds special significance.

Hospitals have reported a surge of bookings for Caesarean births and wedding venues have been having a busy day as well.

BBC

Ghana in World’s top 10 Tourism Destination List for 2012

2011-11-11T22:26:00.000Z

TIG
Ghana has been named in a Top 10 list of Tourism Destination in the world for 2012.Frommer’s Travel, a reputable global and tourism industry, named the West African country 5th, among other developed cities and countries, including Fukuoka, Japan, England’s Greenwich, London, Girona, Spain, Kansas City, Missouri, Curacao, Venezuela, Chongqing, China.

The Ghana Tourism Authority is not only reveling in the new ratings by Frommer’s Travel but is taking concrete steps to attract as many tourists as possible into the country.

At a media briefing on Friday, the Executive Director of the Authority, Julius Debrah said the ratings is a testament of the transformation at the Authority, adding, his outfit has put in place concrete measures to ensure the ratings will not just be a fluke.

He told Myjoyonline.com shortly after the briefing that his outfit will be organizing an African Choral Festival early next year.

The Festival, he said, will host seasoned choristers from colleges around the world who will converge in Ghana, tentatively at the Cape Coast Castle and treat patrons to soothing, resounding, repertoire of choral music.

According to him, over 200 colleges in America and South Africa have so far confirmed their participation in the festival and are working feverishly to attract more.

He was hopeful the festival will rake in massive revenue for the country as the prospective participants are expected to pay their airfares, foot their own hotel bills and other expenses.

Football and tourism
Whilst looking to advertise on the international media in the medium to long term, he stated the Authority is taking great advantage of the social media - facebook, twitter, youtube - to put Ghana on the world map.

Mr. Debrah also acknowledged the impregnable role football is playing in Ghana’s tourism adventure. He paid a glowing tribute to Black Stars and Al Ain striker Asamoah Gyan who stole the show in Wednesday’s World Travel Market 2011, in London.

He said his outfit is looking to leverage on Ghana’s participation in next year’s Nations Cup to be co-hosted by Gabon and Guinea Bissau.

With several complaints about bad attitude by hotel owners, Mr. Debrah said as part of measures to sanitize the hotel industry, it has become mandatory for all hoteliers and staff to be certified with approved qualification.

He said the days when people put up hotels and appoint their wives and children with no requisite certification to manage those hotels were over.

He opined the Authority has no excuse but to prepare adequately to take advantage of this new ranking.

The Authority has also launched an official magazine which will be released quarterly and will encapsulate glorious places of interest and any fascinating thing about Ghana.It also has breathtaking video clips posted on youtube to be viewed world wide.

Source:Nathan Gadugah/www.myjoyonline.com

Ministry of Tourism announces Domestic Tourism Fair and Exhibition next year

2011-11-11T05:01:00.000Z

TIG
The Ghana Domestic Tourism Company in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism on Thursday announced The Ghana Domestic Tourism Fair and Exhibition (GDTFE) 2012.The bi-annual three-day, event will be held from September 6- September 8.

A statement issued in Accra and copied to Ghana News Agency said the aim of GDTFE is to promote Ghana’s domestic tourism industry and expose its potential to local and foreign investors.

It is on the theme: “Re-positioning Ghana’s Domestic Tourism for Growth and Employment”.

The event seeks to provide a platform for expansion and opportunities for Ghana’s domestic tourism, project domestic tourism as a potential lead sector in the tourism industry and the economy.

It also aims at creating awareness of Ghana’s domestic tourism, present Ghana’s tourist potential as a major investment portfolio, and Ghana’s competitive advantage in Africa in tourism and trade.

GDTFE will expose existing trade and investment opportunities, introduce the rich traditions and cultural heritage of the country, network and create partnership with stakeholders.

Organisations from every aspect of Ghanaian tourism will be taking part as products, heritage, culture, eco-tourism, leisure, lifestyle, events, and tourist attractions will all be promoted, exhibited and discussed.

“Whether you are involved in the industry itself, seeking out more information, or are just looking to be a part of something special, the Ghana Domestic Tourism Fair and Exhibition 2012 provides a unique opportunity,” the statement said .

The Event Manager of the Fair and Exhibition, Ms Millicent Atana stated: “The passing of the Tourism Bill is in the right direction and stakeholders in the industry now needs to make a concerted effort to ensure growth in the sector, particularly domestic tourism.

“The domestic tourism industry certainly requires urgent capitalisation, upgrade of basic infrastructure, strategic marketing and promotion to make it attractive and viable and increase its contribution to the GDP as well as provide employment. We hope this event makes a contribution in that direction”.

The event will also convey the Ghana Domestic Tourism Business Forum 2012 which will feature an array of keynote speakers on the theme: “Re-positioning Domestic Tourism for Growth and Employment”.

Ms Atana further added that “The objective of the Business Forum 2012 is to deliberate on certain areas of the business, investment, infrastructure and marketing which are critical to the overall strategic development of our tourism industry to ensure sustainable growth and development”.

The statement said a press launch has been scheduled next year under the auspices of Ministry of Tourism and sponsors.

It said GDTFE 2012 would see performances and local promotions revolving around cuisine and presentations, with more than 200 expected booths participating.

Other activities include Miss Domestic Tourism Ghana 2012 and DOT (Domestic Tourism) Ghana Musical Concert, which will feature an array of Ghanaian musicians and the DOT Kiddies competition.
Source: GNA

New UNWTO & ATM Forum to support highly successful UNWTO & WTM Ministers’ Summit

2011-11-11T04:45:00.000Z

TIG
The highly-successful UNWTO & World Travel Market (WTM) Ministers’ Summit is to have a sister event in 2012 – the UNWTO and Arabian Travel Market (ATM) Forum which will take place during the Arabian Travel Market in Dubai (30 April – 3 May 2012).

The UNWTO & WTM Ministers’ Summit at World Travel Market 2011, the leading global event for the travel sector, is the fifth consecutive edition of this unique event for the world’s tourism ministers to discuss the state of the sector and agree on common strategies to address on-going challenges.

It is now a firm fixture on the tourism ministers’ calendar, with up to 200 ministers and senior aides attending the 2011 UNWTO & WTM Ministers’ Summit discussing issues such as the impact of fiscal consolidation on tourism in Europe or the future of travel in the Middle East and North Africa.

The UNWTO & ATM Forum at the Arabian Travel Market on Monday 30 April 2012, will play a similar role in bringing together the leaders of the region for the increasingly important Middle Eastern travel and tourism sector.

Reed Travel Exhibitions’ Group Exhibition Director, Mark Walsh, said: “The growth in tourism arrivals since the turn of the century means a forum of this kind is essential for both tourism ministers and the private sector to discuss future possibilities. As the premier travel trade exhibition for the region, ATM is the only place to host such an event.”

The Middle East has been one of the fastest growing tourism regions this last decade. International tourist arrivals grew from 24 million in 2000 to more than 60 million in 2010, generating as much as US $50 billion in export earnings for the destinations in the region.

UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai, said: “In spite of current challenges, prospects in the Middle East continue to be very positive in the long-term, as shown by the new UNWTO forecast Tourism Towards 2030 as well as by the projects of infrastructure, airline expansion and hotel capacity in the pipeline for the region.”

The conclusions from the UNWTO & ATM event on The Future of Tourism in the Middle East and North Africa, taking place at WTM on Wednesday 9 November will set the agenda for the first UNWTO & ATM Forum next May.

High-profile speakers at the event at WTM include:Mr. Mounir Fakhry Abdel-Nour, Minister of Tourism of Egypt

Mr. Ahmed A. Al-Nuaimi, Chairman, Qatar Tourism Authority

Mr. Mehdi Houas, Minister of Tourism of Tunisia

Mr. Guy Crawford, Chief Executive Officer, Jumeirah Group Dubai

Mr. Vijay Poonoosamy, Vice President, International & Public Affairs, Etihad Airways

Mr. Tony Hopkins, UK Customer Director, Thomas Cook

Mr. Ghassan Aridi, Chief Executive Officer, Alpha Tours Dubai

Mr. Taleb Rifai, Secretary-General, UNWTO

SOURCE:UNWTO

ASAMOAH GYAN PROMOTES GHANA'S TOURISM AT WTM 2011

2011-11-10T07:02:00.001Z

TIG

Ghana's leading and Al Hin striker Asamoah Gyan yesterday made a surprise appearance at this year's World Travel Market 2011, in london. Asamoah Gyan who made a surprise loan move from sunderland to Al Hin in the United Arab Emirates was spotted at the Ghana stand of the exhibition in London. His presence at the Ghana stand attracted huge attention from travel experts,exhibitors,and the general public who were eager to receive autographs from the Ghanaian Striker.

The Ghanaian stand was packed as everyone was excited and dancing including the Asamoah himself to some traditional Ghanaian beats trying to help promote Ghana's tourism.

With buzz generated after the display at the Ghana stand,fellow African exhibitors Tanzania invited the striker to their stand where he was awarded with a carving made by a Tanzanian artist and a bottle of red wine.

it will be recalled the Ghanaian striker shot to fame during the 2010 world cup tournament in South Africa after scoring three goals and missing a penalty in the last minute of extra time in Ghana's quater final defeat to Uruguay.

Veep Inaugurates Movenpick Ambassador Hotel

2011-11-09T07:22:00.000Z

TIG
The Vice-President, Mr John Dramani Mahama, has called on Saudi investors to take advantage of the investment opportunities in Ghana and invest in the appropriate sectors to earn good returns for the mutual benefit of the people of the two countries.

He said having made progress with the stabilisation of the economy, coupled with improved investment in the financial sector, the country was better positioned to attract the needed investors into the economy.

Mr Mahama, who made the call in Accra on monday at the official inauguration of the 260-room Movenpick Ambassador Hotel, indicated that the influx of airlines into the country demonstrated the commitment of the government to make the hospitality industry attractive to potential investors.

Originally built and presented as a gift by the United Kingdom to Ghana after gaining independence in 1957, the completely re-built Movenpick Ambassador Hotel, including the largest swimming pool in Ghana, is located downtown in the central business district of the national capital on a 16-acre lush landscape gardens, and its location gives a resort-like feel.

The hotel has a collection that includes a portrait of Ghana’s first President, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, dating back to 1956, while two large murals are displayed at either end of the ballroom to maintain the link with the hotel’s heritage.

It also features 61 Executive Club rooms with their exclusive dedicated 24-hour Club Lounge, 15 junior suites and a palatial 350 square presidential suite, all overlooking the pool and gardens.

The Vice-President, who expressed nostalgic feelings about the then Ambassador Hotel during his childhood days, said the re-opening of the facility was to recognise its glory as the flagship of all hotels in Ghana and described the moment as ‘truly divine’, given the timeliness of the inauguration.

Mr Mahama expressed optimism that the long-standing relationship between Ghana and Saudi Arabia would be further rekindled for the Movenpick Hotel to serve as a prime mover for more investments from the Middle East.

He urged employees of the hotel to consider it as their personal investment and work hard to justify their recruitment into that establishment since more than 300 direct jobs had been created by the hotel.

The inaugural ceremony brought together business moguls, including practitioners in the hospitality sector, as well as government functionaries.

The Chairman of the Kingdom Holding Company and Chairman of the Kingdom Hotel Investment, His Royal Highness, Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdul Aziz Alsaud, said the decision to re-open the hotel was informed by the democratic freedom currently prevailing in the country, particularly the freedom of expression.

He said his connection with Ghana transcended investments to include a foundation for supporting the education sector in the country and expressed the belief that by that move the relationship existing between the two countries would be further strengthened.

The project gives testimony to the long-standing relationship between Ghana and Saudi Arabia,” Prince Alsaud said.

Movenpick Hotels and Resorts, an international upscale hotel management company with more than 14,000 employees, is represented in 25 countries with 71 hotels and resorts currently in operation.

SOURCE:DAIILY GRAPHIC

European tourism grows above expectations

2011-11-08T17:04:00.000Z

TIG
International tourist arrivals grew by a healthy 4.5% in the first eight months of 2011 according to the latest data from UNWTO. Europe (+6%), surprisingly, showed the strongest growth amid continuing economic uncertainty.

The Northern Hemisphere summer peak season months of July and August showed encouraging results with growth at close to 4% over 2010, corresponding to an extra 8 million arrivals. At 118 million, July saw the highest number of international tourist arrivals ever recorded in one month (August: 112 million).

Contrary to the trend in recent years, growth in arrivals during the first eight months of 2011 was higher in advanced economies (+4.9%) than in emerging ones (+4.0%), due largely to the particularly strong results of Europe (+6%). In Northern Europe (+7%) and Central and Eastern Europe (+8%), recovery from the 2009 decline, which began in 2010, gained momentum this year. The same is true for some Southern European destinations (+8%), which this year also benefited from the shift of travel away from Middle East (-9%) and North Africa (-15%).

Contrasting with growing economic uncertainty, European Union destinations (+6%) benefited strongly from this growth, bringing some relief for those destinations facing major economic challenges such as Greece (+14%), Ireland (+13%), Portugal (+11%) or Spain (+8%).

“Despite current volatility, international tourism is proving to be an important economic driver for many European economies, bringing much needed foreign exchange and helping to ease the pressure on their balance of payments,” said UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai. “UNWTO encourages European governments to support tourism and consider the sector as one that can back economic recovery given its capacity to distribute wealth and create jobs across the region,” he added.

In Asia (+6%), destinations in South-East (+12%) and South Asia (+13%) remained the rising stars, with double-digit growth rates, while arrivals slowed in North-East Asia – partly due to the decline in Japanese outbound tourism – and in Oceania.

South America (+13%) continues to lead growth in the Americas (+5%) benefiting from positive economic trends in the region and increased regional integration. Results in the other sub-regions – North America (+3%) Central America (+4%) and the Caribbean (+4%) – were slightly below average.

In Africa arrivals were down by 4% as a result of the downturn in North Africa; Sub-Saharan African destinations grew by +4%.

In spite of the current situation in the Middle East, some destinations such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates continue to grow steadily. Results of recent months (July and August) also show an improvement in arrivals to Egypt.

Source markets: Emerging economies lead among spenders

Data on receipts from and expenditure on international tourism for the first eight months of 2011 confirm the positive trend in arrivals.

Among the top ten destinations in international tourism receipts, the two main earners - the USA (+11%) and Spain (+10%) – show exports from tourism growing above the rate of arrivals, while growth in Italy (+6%), Germany (+6%) and the UK (+7%) was also significant.

In terms of source markets, expenditure on travel abroad continued to be very strong from the emerging economies of China (+30%), Russia (+21%), Brazil (+44%) and India (+33%). Major mature markets such as Germany (+4%), the USA (+5%), Canada (+6%) and Italy (+4%) also performed positively, while growth in expenditure on travel abroad from the Scandinavian markets, the Republic of Korea and Australia was particularly strong.

Outlook for 2012

Growth is expected to soften in the remainder of 2011 and international tourist arrivals are projected to end the year at between +4.0% and +4.5%, in line with UNWTO’s forecast at the beginning of the year. For 2012, growth is forecast to be in the range of +3% to +4%, slightly lower than in 2011 but sustaining the positive results of 2010 (+7%) and 2011.

“A stalled economic recovery and increased financial and fiscal challenges have brought growing uncertainty to the tourism market. Nevertheless, the trends of recent months make us confident that though at a slower pace, international tourism will continue to grow in 2012, creating much needed exports and jobs in many economies around the world,” said Mr. Rifai.

SOURCE:UNWTO

RYANAIR is planning to screen PORN on its flights.

2011-11-08T16:51:00.000Z

TIG
Boss Michael O'Leary said he hopes to launch an in-flight web offer that mimics hotel room pay-TV services.

Passengers would be able to log into a Ryanair app using their iPads or smartphones. They could then pay to gamble, play games, watch a movie — or even view sex scenes.

Mr O'Leary told The Sun: "I'm not talking about having it on screens on the back of seats for everyone to see. It would be on handheld devices.

"Hotels around the world have it, so why wouldn't we?" Ryanair says the plan could take at least a year to get off the ground, given the sky-high cost of securing a powerful enough broadband connection for its planes.

A spokesman said: "Nothing has been decided as yet." But Bob Atkinson, of Travelsupermarket, said: "There may be a market for porn in hotels, but that's in the privacy of a room. Anyone could see it on a plane. It's wrong."

SOURCE:THE SUN/www.thesun.co.uk

TOURISM GHANA

2011-11-07T20:56:00.000Z

TIG
Upon having a cursory look at the title of this article ‘’Tourism Ghana’’ one could easily be swayed into thinking that, it is one of the many articles put forward to discuss Ghana’s tourism potential and prospects in toto. Far from it, tourism Ghana is the newest official international publication magazine of Ghana which is put together by the Ghana Tourism Authority under the supervision of the ministry of Tourism.

Tourism Ghana is a magazine that will be produced quarterly by the authority and it is geared towards making our tourism attractions/resources accessible to potential travelers before they plan their trips. In this respect, the Ministry of Tourism and the Ghana Tourism Authority are supported by the Foreign Affairs Ministry in ensuring that the Diplomatic Representations of the Republic of Ghana abroad are the first points of call for future visitors to our country. As a policy, advance copies of Tourism Ghana are dispatched to all 53 missions world-wide, from Brazil to Russia and from Australia to Canada.

Though some cynics may argue that, it is long overdue, like the saying goes‘‘better late than never’’ and kudos to the team that put up this wonderful project together. Right from the Authority’s chief executive officer, Mr. Julius Debrah and his team of directors, management, and more ‘’specially’’ the editorial advisory group and African Destinations that worked tirelessly on the maiden edition.

This initiative is a standard world practice that developed countries have adopted as one of their numerous strategies to bring tourism to the door steps of travelers and the world at large in order to make some informed decisions. We can make mention of similar publications , like Arthur Frommer's Budget Travel magazine., Caribbean Beat is a bimonthly magazine, published in Port of Spain, Trinidad, covering the arts, culture and society of the Caribbean, with a focus on the region's English-speaking territories, Cruise International is a British magazine covering the cruise travel industry., Travel + Leisure is a travel magazine based in New York City, New York., Travel In Taiwan, travel routes, and many other more.

On the magazine itself, the maiden edition deserves plaudits from all. Perhaps the plaudit given this magazine also goes to underscore the need for public private partnership to be entrenched in all facets of our economy most especially in the tourism sector. First of all, the quality of the magazine will rub shoulders with any other international magazine and as Kwaku Sintim Misa (KSM) will have it when signing off TGIF ‘’ numero un’’. As one flips through the magazine, it brings greetings from the Ghanaian public in general and of course special welcome address by the sector minister, Mrs Akua Sena Dansua, the chairman of the parliamentary select committee on trade, industry and tourism, honourable Amadu Sorogho, and the acting board chairman of the Ghana Tourism Authority,Edem Kpodo. It goes to chronicle messages and experiences by foreign tourists and how they will on any day recommend destination Ghana to other travelers.

It proceeds into a special column dubbed ‘IN TIME FOR TOUR’’ where the editor highlight what is in the magazine and also goes on to give a teaser about what readers are to expect from the next edition. Tourism Ghana displays Ghana’s ties with the international community and has the galleries of pleasantries shared between Ghanaian leaders and their counterparts from America, i.e. Ex president Jerry John Rawlings hosting president Clinton, President John Kufour playing host to George Bush and the current President Professor John Atta Mills having a tete –a- tete with President Barack Obama in the castle. In that section it brings to the fore great pictures of Pan Africanist and Ghana’s first president Osagyefo Dr. kwame Nkrumah with Emperor Haile Selassie, Martin Luther king, Jimmy Carter and former UN secretary general Kofi Annan.

The interesting thing about the magazine as one flips through is how the stories combines the art of culture with the state of the art infrastructure and the facilities. Though most of the publication will be send outside the country, there will be copies available in the local market which will seek to inform the citizenry about the going-on in the tourism industry.
This magazine I believe will put to bed the plethora of ‘’mushroom’’ magazines that purport to write on tourism issues but clearly are ill-informed about the touristic value of what they are talking about or putting out stories which simply can be described as red herring.

Just to add to this noble project, I believe just as the honourable minister was encouraging the various airlines to adopt the magazine as their in-flight magazines, it would also inure to our benefit the most if the Authority could strike a deal with these airlines to have them on. We can also explore the possibilities of engaging various airports where our source markets can be traced.

Going forward, I believe we can factor the local market into consideration where well established tourists sites will have copies of the publication. We should also try to incorporate a novelty where it create a column that will sort to grade and appraise hospitality/tourism establishment that are adhering to not only the rules of the authority but adjusting to modern trends in the industry. It will not out rightly stop the quacks from operating or existing but will have a significant impact on their operations and tourists would be informed before making their choices.

Tourism has become one of the driving forces of global employment, economic security and social well-being of the 21st century. The sector today represents 5% of global GDP, one in twelve jobs worldwide, and 30% of the world’s exports of services, ranking fourth after fuels, chemicals and automotive products.

In signing of, the quotes below perhaps will give this initiative the impetus it needs to stay in the system. First from the honourable minister of tourism during the lunch of the magazine, she said ‘’publicity was a critical tool for the development of the tourism industry however, publicity is expensive and we are not able to do enough, this magazine “Tourism Ghana” will fill the void,”

Ms. Becky Anderson, anchorwoman for CNN once said at UNWTO conference that the very nature of news is often gloomy, and that to get a message across the travel industry has to be more pro-active and rely on more than press releases.

Kojo Bentum-Williams
Tourism Advocate
kojofabio@gmail.com
www.tourisminghana.blogspot.com

Qatar to host World Travel Awards 2011

2011-11-07T18:20:00.000Z

TIG
World Travel Awards (WTA), the “Oscars of the travel industry”, has announced it will host its 2011 Grand Final Gala Ceremony in Doha, Qatar on 11th December 2011.

The glittering ceremony will be staged at W Doha Hotel & Residences and will attract the most important decision-makers in global travel and tourism.

The evening marks the culmination of a year-long search for the very best travel and tourism brands in the world, and will feature the winners from WTA’s regional heats competing head to head.

WTA’s 2011 regional heats included Middle East Ceremony (Dubai, UAE), Europe Ceremony (Antalya, Turkey), Africa & Indian Ocean Ceremony (Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt), Asia & Australasia (Bangkok, Thailand), and Caribbean & The Americas (Montego Bay, Jamaica).

After a rigorous selection procedure, Qatar was chosen as the host of WTA’s 2011 Grand Final Gala Ceremony, reflecting the Arabian nation’s rapid emergence as a tourism hotspot, and sport tourism in particular.

W Doha Hotel & Residences exemplifies Qatar’s leading edge approach to design and luxury lifestyle. Guests can enjoy a tantalizing menu of personalized services on the banks of the Persian Gulf. Features include 291 guest rooms and suites, 154 residences, gourmet restaurants, a poolside shisha lounge, champagne bar and luxury retail outlets.

Graham E. Cooke, President & Founder, World Travel Awards, highlights how his organisation selects host destinations that are driving the industry to new heights through innovation and experimentation.

He said: “We are delighted to host our 2011 Grand Final Gala Ceremony in Qatar as it is such an exciting place to be right now. The country is investing $25 billion in tourism infrastructure in the build up to the 2022 Fifa World Cup, giving rise to incredible opportunities within the luxury sector.”

“Our Grand Final will see the winners of our five regional heats, who represent the cream of the global travel and tourism industry, compete head to head for the ultimate travel accolade.”
“Winning a World Travel Award is an endorsement from the thousands of professionals across the globe, and a gold seal of approval to the consumer of travel excellence guaranteed,” he added.

Black music festival launched in Accra

2011-11-06T19:36:00.000Z

TIG
Mr Bernard Botte, Charge d’Affaire of the French Embassy in Ghana, launched the Black Music Odyssey and High Vibes Music Festival, on Thursday in Accra.

Designed by Mondomix, the event which would run from November 3 to December 31, 2011, was to honour the epic history of black music, and celebrate musical legends, who had left their mark everywhere in the world.

“We are extremely happy to invite you to begin this journey on the footprints of these famous and iconic musicians,” Mr Botte told the launching participants, including Ghanaian music legends Gyedu Blay Ambolley, Pat Thomas, Bessa Simons and Ebo Taylor.

The festival, a multimedia of jazz, blues, gospel, rock, hip hop, salsa, hi-life, reggae and funk would celebrate all genre at different locations – the National Museum, Citizen Kofi , Afrikiko Leisure Centre and Movenpick Ambassado Hotel, all in Accra at specified dates.

Music of the yesteryears played by Fela Anikulapo Kuti, Mariam Makeeba, Ali Farka Toure, Billie Holiday, Miles Dibango, Bob Marley and Youssou N’Dour, which retraces some roots and history of music on the African continent would be re-performed.

“Such event has a crucial role to play in the development of the music industry, and the promotion of the Ghanaian talented artists as well as in the circulation of African artists, “Mr Botte said.Bessa Simons and Ebo Taylor thrilled the audience with exciting music.

Source: GNA

Provide concessionary loans for tourism practitioners – Expert

2011-11-06T06:54:00.000Z

TIG
The Chairman of the Institute of Hospitality, Ghana International branch, Mrs Bella Ahu, has advocated the provision of concessionary loans for tourism practitioners for the renovation, refurbishment and expansion of their facilities.

She said, “Lack of training facilities especially continuing professional development programmes to facilitate capacity building in this fast-growing industry, inadequate equipment and lack of state-of-the-art equipment in our tertiary institutions offering courses and lack of uniformed mandate to control and manage the scheme of involving employment, salaries and wages, motivation and recognition of hospitality personnel are some of the observations, concerns and challenges that militate against the efforts and strides that promote excellence in the hospitality and tourism industry.”

She was speaking at the 2nd National Delegates Conference organised by the Institute of Hospitality Ghana at the National Theatre on Wednesday.

She further added that lack of professionals to execute programmes of the government and the private sector as a whole and the large number of untrained and unskilled personnel working in the hospitality establishment also contributed to the challenges of the industry.

Mrs Ahu revealed that the Hotel, Catering and Tourism Training Institute (HOTCATT) established to develop and maintain uniformed standards and certification of hospitality personnel at the foundation, basic, intermediary and supervisory levels, at the moment had no industry standards leaving the future of HOTCATT unknown whereas the building to house guests and demonstration rooms for practical work had also come to a standstill.

She, therefore, pleaded with the Minister of Tourism, Ms Akua Sena Dansua, to kindly take a critical look at the HOTCATT issue, since it was the only quality workforce that can deliver quality service.

The Minister of Tourism, Ms Akua Sena Dansua, acknowledged the immense contribution of sustainable tourism to the country, saying the institute had organised a number of programmes, including conferences, to showcase Ghana’s hospitality, leisure and tourism potential and also created awareness about the role of the hospitality industry in the economic development of Ghana as the conference had brought together development institutions, investors, academics, as well as public and private sector institutions involved in tourism, to discuss best practices in the hospitality sector.

She lauded the institute for its achievements over the years and also emphasised that Ghana was yet to achieve the desired levels of efficiency required in the industry, since the tourism industry was still plagued with challenges such as inadequate training and poor quality service delivery, unprofessional conducts by the industry players, difficulty in the implementation of policies and inadequate and sometimes obsolete equipment.

According to Ms Dansua, the recently promulgated Tourism Law, Act 817 of 2011, among others, is aimed at transforming the Ghana Tourist Board into the Ghana Tourism Authority and also establish a tourism development fund that will make funds available to identify new tourist attractions, develop existing ones and also enable the country to build the capacity of operators in the industry.

Source: Daily Graphic

Sekondi-Takoradi Zenith Hotel close down in police swoop

2011-11-05T12:32:00.000Z

TIG
Zenith Hotel in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis noted for its patronage by commercial sex workers and drug addicts, has been closed down by the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) in a swoop on Friday.

Some officials of GTA, Police personnel, the media accompanied by the Deputy Minister for Tourism, Mr. James Agyenim-Boateng stormed the hotel premises at exactly 0530 hours on Friday and ordered the occupants, most of whom were prostitutes to pack out.

Mr. Agyenim-Boateng said the hotel’s operating licence had expired since 2007 and failed to renew it contrary to (LI 205 of 1979).

He added that the hotel rooms were poorly ventilated, without fire certificates, environmental health certificate, while four or more persons occupy a room with curtains dividing them.

The occupants had also converted the bath house into kitchen with some rooms unhygienic for occupation.

Mr. Aygenim-Boateng indicated that, the exercise was also intended to clamp down on hoteliers that were not operating within the confines of the law and that all hoteliers found culpable would be fined or serve 12 months jail term or both.

He added that the aim was also to ensure sanity in the hospitality industry, earns revenue for the state, and urged all hoteliers to regularize their activities to avoid closure.

Interestingly, two churches namely Christ Embassy and Royal Gospel Church had also rented the top apartment of the hotel for church service while some herbal medicine operators had rented rooms as shops.

At the time of the exercise, some of the prostitutes had clients in their rooms and therefore refused to open the doors which compelled the Police to forcibly break the doors.

In one of the rooms, the team saw one man naked who quickly dressed up while the prostitute covered her nakedness with her clothes.

The exercise attracted a large crowd at the hotel who stood to watch the event.

The Hotel Manager, Mr. Francis Owusu became very much surprise when the team stormed the premises but managed to lead the team to inspect the rooms.

The hotel had 12 rooms.
GNA

Publicity critical to tourism development – Minister

2011-11-05T10:31:00.000Z

TIG

The Ghana Tourism Authority has launched a magazine “Tourism Ghana” as part of activities to promote the tourism industry in the international arena.

The magazine will also be used in their publicity drive as part of efforts by the Authority to showcase Ghana’s tourism potentials to the rest of the world.

Ms Akua Sena Dansua, the Minister of Tourism who launched the magazine together with Mr Koku Anyidoho, Director of Communications at the Presidency, and other top officials in the Tourism industry, said publicity was a critical tool for the development of the tourism industry.

“However, publicity is expensive and we are not able to do enough, this magazine “Tourism Ghana” will fill the void,” she said.

The magazine, which has a glossy look with pictures of hotels in Ghana and other tourists’ attractions and comments of some tourists on Ghana, also describes Ghana’s night life, cultures and other tourism products.

Ms Dansua said the magazine was an important drive in the marketing and promotion of the tourism industry and urged airlines to adopt it as their in-flight magazine.

The Ghana Tourism Authority is also using social media networks such as Youtube, Facebook and Twitter to further enhance their promotion and marketing programmes.

Mr Anyidoho, who represented President John Evans Atta Mills, said the government was committed to see the tourism industry grow and develop, saying, “We believe that tourism is part of the tools to use to achieve the Better Ghana agenda.”

Mr Bruce Potter, Managing Director of Holiday Inn Hotel who hosted the event, described the launch of the magazine as a new partnership between the public and private sector.

“This magazine, which is the official international publication on Ghana’s tourism, will showcase what we have in Ghana,” he said and added that it would also add to the promotion drive of Ghana’s tourism.

Mr Potter said Ghana had a real taste of what West Africa had to offer in terms of tourism.
The Ghana Tourism Authority was established in May following an act of Parliament that passed the Tourism Bill into law. The Authority replaces the then Ghana Tourists Board.
Source: GNA

Ghana’s tourism ACT now operational

2011-11-04T17:26:00.000Z

TIG
The Tourism Bill in Parliament received a Presidential assent in May this year to become the Tourism Act, 2011 (ACT 817) that primarily seeks to enhance the development of the tourism sector, Mr Ben Ohene-Ayeh, Public Relations Manager, Ghana Tourism Authority, said in Accra on Thursday.

The Tourism Law thus mandates the then Ghana Tourists Board to be replaced by the Ghana Tourism Authority, he explained, adding, the objective of the Tourism Authority was to strengthen and promote the sustainable development of the tourism industry internationally and within the country.

The ACT also comes with it the establishment of a Tourism Development Fund which will be used to finance the tourism industry and its related projects and programmes.

Mr Ohene-Ayeh in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, said the Authority would soon embark on a capacity building and market research programmes to help develop more tourism infrastructure.

He said the Tourism ACT also mandates the Authority to register and licence tourism enterprises and sites, saying, “A person shall not operate a tourism enterprise unless that person holds a valid licence issued by the Authority in respect of that tourism establishment.

Tourism enterprises include; operating a food joint or restaurant, drinking bars, hotels and guest houses, travel and tour businesses, traditional catering (Chop bar), night clubs, movie house or theatre among others in the hospitality industry.

Tourism ACT 817 also states that a person shall not manage a tourism enterprise or exercise overall control over the daily operation of the enterprise whether as the owner or manager unless that person is registered with the Authority.

Mr Ayeh explained that the Authority will establish a forum for private tourism enterprises owners or managers and officials of the Ghana Tourism Authority as well as the sector Ministry to discuss tourism development opportunities and together promote Ghana’s tourism.
Source: GNA

Ghana get new official Tourism Magazine.

2011-11-03T21:29:00.000Z

TIG
Tourism Ghana is a new approach to promote the Country’s business and leisure travel potentials.There is a general consensus on a need to do more to attract visitors to the country, especially when Destination Ghana is positioned to perform remarkably well by key industry analysts.

Currently, we are among the Top 10 countries most likely to be chosen for travel by potential holiday makers in the year 2012 according to a survey by Frommers Travel Magazine and this should motivate us to stay competitive with other nations like South Africa, Uganda and Kenya.

Also, the climate in the Maghreb states adds an advantage to our efforts to secure pole position. The political turmoil in the Middle East and most parts of North Africa certainly will make global travelers look elsewhere for leisure. With a natural tourism infrastructure and good preparatory work done by Governments preceding the Mills Administration, it is only logical that we continue to employ the tools that make us attractive.

The basic idea is to take these attractions to potential travelers before they plan their trips. In this respect, the Ministry of Tourism and the Ghana Tourism Authority are supported by the Foreign Affairs Ministry in ensuring that the Diplomatic Representations of the Republic of Ghana abroad are the first points of call for future visitors to our country.

As a policy, advance copies of Tourism Ghana are dispatched to all 53 missions world-wide, from Brazil to Russia and from Australia to Canada. As our nationals and their spouses go to the Embassies and High Commissions for consular services, there are good prospects of seeing the publication which eventually catalyzes their decisions to visit Ghana. Foreigners are even more likely to be impressed.

source:ghanaweb.com

Institute of Hospitaliity holds 2nd national delegates' conference

2011-11-03T11:40:00.000Z

TIG

The Institute of Hospitality, Ghana will host its 2nd national delegates’ conference from Wednesday to Friday November 4 to allow stakeholders to discuss how to improve on their performance.

The conference will discuss success stories, best practices and key challenges that face the hospitality, leisure and tourism industry in Ghana.

There will also be a presentation on investment in the tourism industry.The three-day conference will also host prominent players and stakeholders in the Hospitality, leisure and Tourism industry, during which heads of hospitality departments in the 10 polytechnics would be honoured and inaugurated as regional co-ordinators to strengthen the activities of the Institute.

The President of the Institute of Hospitality Ghana Bella Ahu, said members of the body are determined to move the industry to another level.

She said the conference will therefore be used to share ideas and take hard decisions that would lead to the development of the sector.

GNA

African air traffic to sour in next 20 years

2011-11-02T16:26:00.000Z

Airbus expects that air traffic in Africa is set to grow beyond the general rate of global growth in the next two decades.

The growth of a number of African economies along with increasing stability and a greatest interest in what the continent can offer for tourists. This is leading to increased optimism in the future of African tourism and airline companies are set to benefit.

The growth of the airline industry on a global scale is expected to be around 5.4% between now and 2020. Africa expects a higher rate of 6.5% per annum according to Airbus. The above figures, naturally relate to comparison and the starting points of places of extreme importance. Whereas many countries have numerous Aviation Megacities, the whole of Africa currently has just one.

An Aviation Megacity is a place, which serves 10,000 or more passengers per day and currently Johannesburg is the only African representative in this category. By 2020, if the Dark Continent is to cope with incoming, and in some cases outgoing, demand, then 6 such places will be necessary.

This is the reason for such a level of enforced growth. Africans do not have the luxury of Europeans, whereby many destinations are reachable either by land or sea and air travel is becoming more and more necessary.

Such expected growth is going to bring major challenges to a number of prominent airlines. South Africa, according to estimates, is going to need 180 more aircraft at huge costs. This expenditure though spread over a few decades still provides massive challenges.

TIG

Whites only' restaurant in Ghana closed down

2011-11-01T18:10:00.000Z

Government has closed down a seafood restaurant in Osu, Accra for breaching Ghana’s tourism laws. The Atlantic Lobster and Dolphins Ltd is also alleged to be operating a policy of racial discrimination.

Elizabeth Okoro, a young woman with Ghanaian and Nigerian parentage accused the Italian owner of the restaurant of making racist comments.

According to her, she visited the restaurant with her Spanish friend but was shocked to learn that the restaurant was opened to whites only.

She explained the owners of the restaurant were operating a new policy in which only whites were allowed to register and become members of the club.

When she attempted to register to become a member on her second visit, she was told only whites were allowed to become members.

Elizabeth Okoro said she was stunned by the utterances by the restaurant official and vowed to resist any attempt to discriminate against blacks in Ghana or any other part of Africa.

She then blew the alarm through social network sites in a bid to raise awareness.

It appears her steadfastness has yielded dividend with government taking a prompt action against the restaurant, albeit with a different reason.

Deputy Tourism Minister James Agyenim Boateng has visited the restaurant and told Joy News’ Israel Laryea the restaurant has been closed down.

He said the Atlantic Lobster and Dolphins Ltd is operating as a catering service and should have registered with the Ghana Tourism Board.

He said the closure is not premised on the allegations of racial discrimination but failure by the company to adhere to legislative instrument.

According to the deputy Minister, the Italian owner confirmed making the racial comments but described it only as a joke.

James Agyenim Boateng said that joke cannot be made at our own backyard.

However, the Italian owner in an interview with Joy News’ Araba Koomson denied being racist. Anthony Daliou said he is married to a Ghanaian wife who has a Ghanaian baby and could not have made such a racist comment.

SOURCE:MYJOYONLINE.COM

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Ghana ranked among world’s top ten tourism destinations in 2012

2011-10-30T13:28:00.000Z

Ghana is ranked among the world's top ten tourism destinations to visit in the year 2012 according to Frommer’s 2012 list of top destinations released October 26, 2011. The top ten destinations that made the list were Curacao; Chongqing, China; Fukuoka Japan; Beirut; Ghana; London’s Greenwich neighbourhood; Girona, Spain; Bay of Fundy, Nova Scotia; Kansas City, Mo; Yucatan Peninsula..

As it has for the past two years, the guidebook publisher/travel website allowed readers to chime in on where they want to go next year. And the winner by a landslide? Turkey, with 51% of the vote among a list of 10 destinations, including Paris, Italy and Hawaii.

The list also clearly spelt out why these destinations were chosen.According to Frommer’s, it listed Ghana because “Ghana provides a perfect introduction to African travel. True, this small and amiable West African nation lacks the big name draws associated with the continent’s top safari destinations. But for anybody seeking a holistic experience that embraces traditional and contemporary cultures as well as beaches and safaris, Ghana’s microcosmic travel circuit is the perfect African primer.”

The Ghanaian coast is archetypal West Africa. But these picture-postcard beaches, which come complete with a backdrop of tangled jungle and coconut palms, are given a unique dimension by a string of imposing colonial forts, whose dank dungeons pay chilling testament to the millions of Africans once shipped across the Atlantic to serve as slaves in the Americas.

It continues “Where Ghana really stands out – and the reason it has become so popular with backpackers and volunteers — is its suitability to unpackaged travel. You could spend months, even months, exploring this safe and affordable Anglophone country, traveling as whim dictates, and still find yourself confronted with something different and special on a daily basis.

Below is the top 10 for 2012 and why, according to Lytle, they made the list:

Curacao – This often overlooked Caribbean island has affordable rentals, "as opposed to traditional flop-and-drop all-inclusives."

Chongqing, China – An alternative to the usual Chinese destinations (Beijing, Shanghai), it's a 19th-century town that has undergone rapid modernization, thanks, in part, to its position as the last stop on the Three Gorges river tour.

Fukuoka Japan – This feudal Japanese town on the north shore of Kyushu province is a place to go after you've done Tokyo and Kyoto. Plus, its inclusion on the list is a reminder that not all of Japan was affected by the earthquake.

Beirut – The city has experienced a renaissance in recent years, as many European travelers know. "It's an urban hotspot full of smartly dressed people who have intelligent conversation," Lytle says.

London's Greenwich neighborhood – Just 20 minutes from Central London, this Thames-side town has undergone a renaissance. And post-Olympics is a good time to visit London, since it's bound to be gussied up for the event, with bargains after the party's over.

Girona, Spain – This Costa Brava town is popular among Brits, but is largely undiscovered by Americans. It's also an easy-to-get-to beach getaway from Barcelona.

Bay of Fundy, Nova Scotia – It's a quiet, charming area, perfect for recharging your batteries.

Kansas City, Mo. – Its food and music scenes are lively. It sports a number of really good museums. Plus, it's central locale makes it relatively close to a lot of Americans.

Yucatan Peninsula – There's more to this region than Cancun. Moreover, it's been relatively free of drug-related violence that has touched border towns and the some of the Mexico's western reaches.

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UN partners help least developed countries take steps towards more effective tourism development

2011-10-28T17:35:00.000Z

Eight of the world’s Least Developed Countries (LDCs) have begun to assess their tourism development needs and pinpoint relevant funding sources at a workshop held by the United Nations Steering Committee on Tourism for Development (SCTD).

Representatives from the Tourism, Finance and Trade Ministries of Benin, Burundi, Cambodia, Comoros, Lesotho, Maldives, Sao Tome and Principe and Uganda came together with the nine UN Agencies that make up the SCTD at International Trade Centre (ITC) Headquarters in Geneva, to learn how to better work together to maximize tourism’s development potential.

“Tourism is one of the few economic sectors through which LDCs have managed to increase their participation in the global economy,” said UNWTO Executive Director, Márcio Favilla, opening the workshop. “The multiplier effect of tourism is also particularly effective in the LDCs, where tourism expenditure generates additional flows of revenue and consumption for other branches of the economy such as agriculture, local fisheries, handicrafts and the furniture and construction industries”.

International tourist arrivals in the 48 LDCs grew from 6 million in 2000 to over 17 million in 2010. In the same period, international tourism receipts climbed from US$ 3 billion to over US$ 10 billion.

The workshop, organized with the support of the Secretariat of the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF), a multi-donor programme specifically for LDCs, allowed the countries to learn more about the EIF and how to best access the mechanism to develop their tourism strategies and action plans, as well as leveraging human and financial resources.

A break-out session of bi-lateral meetings between countries and UN agencies during the workshop helped to identify a number of specific tourism-related needs of the LDCs and match them with SCTD Agency capabilities.

The workshop builds on the momentum generated at the Fourth UN Conference on Least Developed Countries (LDC-IV), at which tourism was included as a poverty reduction tool for the first time. It is now expected that the LDCs, with the support of SCTD Agencies as well as the EIF Secretariat, will be able to prepare project proposals by the end of 2011, for local approval and subsequent submission to the EIF Board for endorsement by mid-2012.
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Ministers of Tourism of major world economies call on decision-makers to use tourism to stimulate the economy

2011-10-28T08:32:00.000Z

The Ministers of Tourism of the major economies meeting in Paris for the 3rd T20 Ministers’ Meeting have called on decision-makers to consider tourism within their strategies to foster the economy and when facing mounting challenges, namely that of job creation.

The meeting approved a declaration calling on members of the G20 to “register the importance and impact of tourism as a topic of discussion in the coming years’ summits” considering the “significant economic and social potential of tourism for the global economy, employment and sustainable development”.

“We need to convince our decision-makers of the importance of tourism to the economy and employment,” said Mr. Frederic Lefebvre, Minister of Tourism of France, opening the meeting. “In these challenging times, we need to maximize our strengths and tourism is one of them,” he added.

“Tourism can be part of the solution to the economic difficulties facing the world,” said Mr. Taleb Rifai, UNWTO Secretary-General. “Amid increased economic uncertainty, unacceptably high unemployment rates and the challenges of fiscal consolidation and increased taxation in many economies, it is time for us to recall the role tourism can have in increasing exports, driving economic growth and creating jobs,“ he added.

The debate highlighted the multiplier effect of tourism on other sectors of the economy in terms of output, and particularly employment, as well as the contribution of the sector to minimizing trade unbalances in many economies and promoting regional development.

With one billion tourists set to cross international borders in 2012, the meeting furthermore stressed the impact of tourism in fostering social wellbeing and understanding, and the need for it to address the challenges of sustainable development and climate change to ensure a sustained future. Ministers also stressed the need to reduce travel barriers and increase investment to move the tourism agenda forward.

“In this period of economic transition, tourism is a strong driver of development,” said Mr. Antonio Tajani, Vice-President of the European Commission and responsible for Industry and Entrepreneurship. “As we face an economic and confidence crisis, all sectors should contribute to overcome difficulties and tourism can make a significant contribution to this effort,” he added.

The T20 is an initiative created to advocate the value of tourism within the strategies of economic recovery/growth; it aims to position tourism as a driver of economic, social and environmental change.

The next meeting of the T20 will be held in Mexico, in May 2012.

SOURCE:UNWTO

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Private sector in Ghana tasked to contribute to tourism development

2011-10-27T21:38:00.000Z

The Chief and the Zenga ponds, popularly known as the Paga Crocodile ponds, which are located on the main Navrongo and Paga Highway in the Upper East region generated a total of ¢5,736.50 in 2010 and in the first quarter of 2011.

During this period, a total of 3,577 people made up of 2,748 residents and 829 non-residents visited the two places.

Ms Akua Dansua, Tourism Minister, said these in response to a question in Parliament, on what the Ministry is doing to provide adequate infrastructure to make the Paga Crocodile ponds and Slave camp more attractive tourist sites.

The Minister said the popularity of the ponds could be attributed to their locations on a major transit highway between the landlocked countries of Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso.

She said the Ministry has always encouraged private individuals to invest in the development of tourism infrastructure since by so “doing the small and medium scale tourism enterprises such as hotels, restaurants, entertainment/recreational facilities, souvenir shops, transport services will be created to, among others, create jobs, provide income to operators in these sectors and improve the local economies of these areas.”

She said the Crocodile pond and the Slave camp have been documented in several brochures and the website of the Ghana Tourism Authority is contributing to the patronage they have been witnessing.

“Currently, the District Assembly has provided a modest visitor centre with facilities such as washrooms, restaurant, information office and entertainment area where cultural performances are held.

She urged the private sector to contribute to the sustainable development of tourism in all parts of the country.

Parliament reconvened on Tuesday and the House is expected to debate and approve the NDC’s last budget this November before the country heads for General Elections in 2012.

SOURCE:By Eunice Menka/ghanabusinessnews.com
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First West African Tourism fair to open in Nigeria

2011-10-27T21:24:00.000Z

The first West African Tourism and Culture Fair (WATCF), is to be held at Abeokuta, Ogun State Capital, in Nigeria in February, next year.

WATCF is an innovative programme, designed to help tourism marketing professionals to promote unique cultural heritage in the sub-region.

The fair, which is on the theme: “Promoting Domestic Tourism and Creating Awareness of the Benefits of Tourism,” is being organised by International Business and Event Management (IBEM), Ghana Limited, from February 23- February 25.

Mr Kelvin Fiifi Ampah, Chief Executive Officer of IBEM-Ghana Ltd, in a statement issued to the Ghana News Agency on Monday, said the fair is intended for tourism marketing professionals who share the vision and challenge of increasing tourism promotion within the sub-region.

This, he said, would be done by providing opportunities for bringing enriching, exciting, and authentic experiences to an eager public to expand.

“Travellers are regularly and frequently choosing to incorporate cultural experiences into their itineraries, and choosing their leisure destinations based on cultural merit,” he stated.

WATCF will create a forum for fresh ideas and renewed vitality in the industry through networking, professional development, and mentorship, thereby contributing to a positive growth and strong sense of community participation in the promotion of cultural heritage of their peoples.

The main thematic pillars on which the Fair will rest include the promotion and marketing of Ghana and Ogun State tourism sites; domestic tourism and creation of awareness of the benefits of tourism, and developing strategies for effective marketing promotion.

As part of activities towards the fair, the Ogun State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Chief Olu Odeyemi, and his team will be visiting Ghana to strengthen cultural ties.

There will also be an official launch by IBEM Ghana Ltd of Ogun State cultural artifacts like ‘ankara and kampala’ cloths for the Ghanaian market on November 12, this year.

Source: GNA
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Takoradi to get Commercial Airport

2011-10-26T09:21:00.000Z

The government is considering a number of proposals from strategic investors for the construction of a commercial airport in Takoradi to meet the growing boom in the domestic air travel.

Currently the Takoradi Airforce base which serves as the airport for all flights records 10 daily commercial flights between Accra and Takoradi while helicopter services between Takoradi and offshore rig sites are 13.

These flights are beside other charter flights services. Some of the domestic airlines providing services between Accra and the Takoradi Airforce base are Antrak Air, City link, Starbow Air, Tullow Oil Air and flight 540.

Some of the airlines are also reported to be gearing up to begin inter regional airline services between Takoradi and other West African countries.

The Minister of Transport, Alhaji Collins Dauda, told the Daily Graphic yesterday that some investors had put in their proposals to partner the government in the development of Airports in other parts of the country.

He said the situation at Takoradi Airforce base, which has seen an increase in air traffic following the oil discovery, warranted urgent attention for the construction of commercial airport.

He said it was, therefore, prudent that the government partnered investors for the establishment of the facility because’ it is important that we give the military their privacy’’.

Alhaji Dauda said until the government settled on a partner for the construction of s commercial airport, airlines would have to continue to use the military facility.

During a visit to the Airforce base by the daily graphic, the reporter observed that authorities of the Ghana Airforce had installed a body and bag scanner at the Airforce base in Takoradi as part of measures to improve the security.

A desk has also been set up for the use by the commercial airlines to receive and process passengers.

SOURCE: DAILY GRAPHIC,MOSES DOTSEY AKLORBORTU

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Implement Accord on air transport liberalization

2011-10-25T23:00:00.002Z

President John Evans Atta Mills on Tuesday appealed to signatories of the Yamoussoukro Accord on the Liberalization of Air Transport Market in Africa to help ensure that the continent possessed an improved air transport system.

The Accord, which was approved by transport/aviation ministers of the continent in 1999 stipulated that all signatory states were to progressively eliminate all non-physical barriers in the aviation industry including those linked to the granting of traffic rights, tariffs and the number of frequencies and the capacities of air services.

In a message read for the President by Alhaji Collins Dauda, Minister of Transport, during a one day meeting of ECOWAS aviation ministers, expressed unhappiness about the inability of signatory countries to implement the Accord, due to the fear of having their local aviation industries compete with foreign established airlines.

He appealed to those countries which had not yet implemented the Accord to do so without further delay as it will lead to a considerable increase in the volume and frequency of flights within West Africa.

President Atta Mills said air transport played a vital role in the physical integration of the West African sub-region and called for the improvement of the safety and the technical capacities of the industry in order to boost the confidence of the people.

He said “I wish to commend the Director Generals of Civil Aviation in the sub-region who met in Lome, Togo in May, to establish one unique Regional Aviation Safety Oversight Organisation in order to create a common safety rules for all ECOWAS air transport providers.

President Atta Mills urged the aviation ministers to create an enabling environment for private sector participation in the aviation industry adding that “You may also deliberate on how to promote strong alliance and cooperation among ECOWAS airlines companies in order to remain competitive and profitable in the global market”.

Mrs Doreen Owusu-Fianko, Director of the Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL), expressed unhappiness about the collapse of traditional air carriers such as Air Afrique, Ghana Airways and Nigeria Airways which were the pride of their countries.

She called on the transport/aviation ministers to assess the challenges faced by the industry practitioners in the implementation of air transport policies adding that Ghana’s aviation industry has been noted as one of the fastest growing and perhaps the most competitive in the West African sub-region with a growth rate of about 20percent.

She said the number of airlines plying their trade in the country had doubled from 15 in the beginning of the millennium to about 36 in 2011 and with increasing interest been shown by other foreign carriers.

Mrs Owusu-Fianko said GACL in collaboration with government had begun the construction of nine additional parking stands to accommodate wide-bodied aircrafts at the Kotoka International Airport among other projects.
GNA

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Aviation Experts call for the decoupling of Air Navigation service providers from the regulator

2011-10-20T21:53:00.000Z

Experts at this year’s international air traffic controllers day 2011 have appealed to the government and other stakeholders to help decouple the air navigation service provider from the regulator to improve the operations in the aviation industry.

This year’s theme was ‘’Delinking the air navigation service provider from the regulator’’. The event brought together stakeholders in the aviation industry and had the managing director of Ghana Civil Aviation Authority, Air CDR (RTD)Kwame Mamphey, as the chairman for the occasion.

In his opening address, he recounted the successes that has been chalked by the authority together with the Ghana Airports Company Limited and also paid glowing tribute to all who have worked towards making the aviation industry in Ghana one of the best in Africa.

Air CDR (RTD) Kwame Mamphey stated that, in order to move to the next level in the aviation industry, it was imperative to decouple the service provider from the regulator. He said the decoupling was the best and standard practice in the aviation industry and hoped all stake holders will put hands on deck to make this a reality.

On a speech read on his behalf by the director general, the honourable minister, Alhaji Collins Dauda said it was part of government agenda to make the Accra Airport the hub of Africa and hence will support any action that will help improve the industry. He said his ministry would like to adhere to the best practice in the industry and will support the decoupling of the air navigation service provider from the regulator.

He said the ministry is awaiting government’s white paper to enable them expedite action on that. Honourable Alhaji Collins Dauda said he will also table it before cabinet for considerations.

Mr. Maxwell Arthur, head of the Ghana civil aviation training academy and the main speaker for the seminar clearly highlighted the going-on in the aviation industry through a thorough presentation. He highlighted the need for the country to decouple the service provider from the regulator with empirical documentation showing how successful it has been.

Mr. Arthur also called on all stakeholders to thoroughly discuss the models and the shape of governance when the air navigation service providers are decoupled from the regulator. He said Ghana will benefit immensely from the arrangement which will see the country improve safety, quality of service, modernization in technology and more viably financial stability. A communiqué is expected to be issued after the event.

by:Kojo Bentum-Williams

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19th General Assembly closes with a pledge to strengthen UNWTO

2011-10-19T09:26:00.000Z

The over 600 representatives from UNWTO’s Members States and Affiliate Members attending the 19th session of the UNWTO General Assembly have unanimously adopted proposed reforms in the Organization, allowing it to become more responsive, efficient and relevant in the face of current and future challenges (Gyeongju, Republic of Korea, 10-13 2011)

“Over the last two years UNWTO has embarked on a gradual but determined reform process” said Mr. Taleb Rifai, UNWTO Secretary-General, presenting the White Paper to the Assembly.

The White Paper, A Reform Process for a More Relevant UNWTO, is a response to shifting international realities. ”UNWTO is well aware of the changing context of the tourism sector and of the needs of its Members” said Mr. Rifai. “This is reflected in the White Paper which proposes to reinforce the work of the Organization in competitiveness and sustainability while adopting new areas of work such as domestic tourism, employment in tourism and tourism governance”, he added.

The White Paper is of particular relevance as the new UNWTO long term forecast Tourism Towards 2030, launched on the occasion of the General Assembly, shows that the sector has immense growth potential – international tourism is set to reach 1.8 billion tourists by 2030.

The General Assembly also welcomed Liberia as a new Full Member and 69 public and private sector as new Affiliate Members, bringing UNWTO membership to 155 Members States and over 400 Affiliate Members.

The Executive Council elected Kenya as its new Chairman. “I am committed to work with all member countries to push forth the tourism agenda globally” said Mr. Najib Balala, Minister of Tourism of Kenya.

Spain was elected to host World Tourism Day 2012 under the theme Tourism and Sustainable Energy – Powering Sustainable Development and the Maldives to host World Tourism Day 2013 to be celebrated under the topic Tourism and Water – Protecting our Common Future.

Zambia and Zimbabwe won the bid to jointly host the 20th session of the UNWTO General Assembly in 2013.

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KIA needs new equipment to maintain safety and security standards

2011-10-18T13:14:00.000Z

The Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL) has called on the Government to provide more technologies for the airport to further improve safety and security.

This, it said, would enable them maintain and improve status of Kotoka International Airport (KIA) as the most secure and safe airport in West Africa.

Brigadier General Mankattah (Rtd), Airport Security Coordinator, made the call when presenting the award for “Best Security and Safety Conscious Airport in West Africa”, conferred on KIA by Africa Watch at the Eight Security Watch Africa Awards over the week-end, to the Board of Directors of the company in Accra on Monday.

Brig-Gen. Mankattah, who received the award on behalf of the management, at the awards ceremony held in Banjul, Gambia, said GACL had been able to achieve a lot with the limited resources available and could perform better to make KIA attain more laurels when it was equipped with modern technologies in aviation.

He mentioned technologies such as biometric access control to limit access to restricted areas as well as scanners for the scanning of cargo and personnel to help especially in the fight against terrorism and drug trafficking.

Brig-Gen Mankattah said the award was an indication of the Airport’s commitment to ensuring safety and security adding, the NGO that conferred the award visited airports in West Africa and assessed their safety and security measures, documentation and other physical happenings at the airport.

Mrs Doreen Owusu-Fianko, Managing Director of GACL, said the award was a challenge to the management to maintain and improve upon the current state of safety and security at the KIA.

She commended security agencies operating at the airport, Aviation Security, Narcotics Control Board, Bureau of National Investigations, security outfits within GACL and Ghana Civil Aviation Authority as well as airline security, for their work in ensuring safety and security.

Mrs Owusu-Fianko said measures such as security orientations given to all airport workers before issuance of Identification Cards, installation of bird dispersal equipment by GCAA, regular Foreign Objects/Debris (FOD) walks, to remove objects that might be harmful to aircrafts, enforcement of use of reflective jackets at airside and regular checks of aircrafts and its personnel had all contributed to win KIA the “Best Security And Safety Conscious Airport In West Africa” award.

Mr Kuntu Blankson, Chairman of Board of Directors of GACL, commended the management and staff for their hard work and added that the technologies requested was in the board’s plan and they would be provided as soon as a proposal was forwarded to the Board

SOURCE:GNA
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Tourist facility operators told to work within regulations

2011-10-18T11:23:00.000Z

Mr Ekow Sampson, Ashanti Regional Manager of the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), has implored operators of tourist facilities to strive to abide by tourism regulations to consolidate optimum customer care for the growth of the industry.

He observed that adherence to the Legislative Instrument 1205, regulating the work of accommodation and catering enterprises, is critical to meet the required standards in their operations and also raise the nation’s image while realising maximum returns on investments made in tourism.

Mr Sampson was addressing the opening session of a day’s training workshop for front office, security and housekeeping personnel in Kumasi.

It was designed to sensitise the participants on regulations governing the tourism industry, particularly in respect of customer care, safety and security, maintenance and food handling.

The GTA sponsored the programme in collaboration with Cleaning Solutions Company Limited and Bella –Aqua, producers of filtered water.

The Regional Manager said the growing importance of tourism in the world today had gingered nations to take issues relating to the training of personnel seriously.

Mr Sampson therefore enjoined the participants to implement the skills acquired for their own advantage.

Mr Charles Buabin, Regional Principal Marketing Officer of the GTA, said customer care determines the success or otherwise of any tourist facility.

The participants should therefore hold their customers in high esteem to enhance decency in the tourism industry.

Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Kingsley Aboagye of the Regional Police Command, took the participants through measures to strengthening the security network on the premises of their facilities.
SOURCE:GNA

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International Airlines woo Nigerian passengers to fly from Ghana

2011-10-16T19:29:00.000Z

Major international airlines operating from the nation’s busiest airport, Lagos are now encouraging Nigerian passengers to go to Katoka International Airport, Accra, Ghana to board flights to their various destinations in Europe and other parts of the world.

The airlines have put in incentives in the form of fare reduction, which they slashed by almost 50 per cent for passengers who travel from Ghana to their operational hubs in Europe. For example, cost of upper class of Virgin Atlantic Airways from Accra to London is N385, 000, while it is N821,000 from Lagos for flights scheduled the same day and the same time.

Also, cost of first class ticket of British Airways from Accra is N773, 798, while from Abuja is N1, 081, 977 and Lagos is N1.365,998. British Airways club class inbound on a Sunday to Accra N481, 498, while Lagos is N918,234 and Abuja is N776,223. Economically and otherwise, it is highly justifiable to fly from Accra instead of from Lagos or Abuja because if you add about return ticket of N70, 000, which is the cost of return ticket from Lagos to Accra, you would still have saved a lot of money.

The implication of this is that these mega carriers want to use Ghana as their operational hub in West Africa, although they know that their huge passengers are in Nigeria, so by slashing these fares they would move these Nigerians passengers to their neighbouring country and after some time would begin to up the fares.

By then, they must have established Accra as their operational base and the Nigerian passengers would have no other choice than to travel there to board their flight as these airlines are likely going to withdraw their services or limit them in Nigeria.

THISDAY learnt that the major factors that made the airlines introduce this policy was cost of their operation in Nigeria, including the high cost of fuel, which is relatively cheaper in Ghana, high cost of navigational and other charges, security threats in Nigeria and poor facilities at Nigeria’s airports.

These airlines are also hurt by inconsistency in policy making by the Federal Government, so by making Accra a hub, these major carriers would safe huge amounts of money by operating less from Nigeria.
SOURCE:By Chinedu Eze/thisdayonline.com

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Akuapems celebrate annual Odwira festival

2011-10-15T20:55:00.003Z

The Eastern Regional Minister, Dr Kwasi Akyem Apea-Kubi has appealed to the Akuapem Traditional Authorities to peacefully resolve all land disputes in the area to help maintain stability.

Dr Apea-Kubi was speaking at this year’s durbar of the chiefs and people at Akropong-Akuapem to celebrate the annual Odwira festival, which coincided with the 37th anniversary of the installation of Oseadeeyo Addo Dankwa III, Okuapemhene (Paramount Chief of Akuaapem).

This year’s odwira festival was held on the theme: “Need for moral restoration in Ghana.”
Dr Apea-Kubi said government had initiated the legal process to upgrade the Akuapem North District to a Municipality.

He said government is providing many social amenities like school buildings, hospital infrastructure, roads and many other projects to ensure the fulfilment of the better Ghana agenda.

Dr Apea-Kubi said the Akuapem North District had benefited from 19 school projects in all the second cycle institutions within the last two years.He congratulated the chiefs and people for raising the Odwira festival to international standards to attract tourists.

The Regional Minister asked the revellers to stay away from acts that would influence them to attract HIV and AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases.

In a speech read on his behalf, the Okuapemhene; Oseadeeyo Addo Dankwa III, expressed regret about the breakdown of moral values in the society and called on stakeholders to work towards its restoration.

He observed that, morality is an essential element of national development.
Oseadeeyo Addo Dankwa called on Akuapems to take a leading role to restore the virtuous pillar of the society.

He called for the demonstration of good morals during next year’s national elections to ensure free, fair and transparent elections.The Odwira festival is the traditional new year of the chiefs and people of Akuapem and the time when Akuapems all over the world come home to meet friends and relations.

The event was attended by large crowd of people including diplomats, Members of Parliament, government representatives and the Presidential Candidate of the main opposition New Patriotic Party, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.The festival was first celebrated in 1826 during the reign of Nana Addo Dankwa I.

Source: GNA
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