Ghana has called for the easing of visa regimes by member states of the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) to enable international tourists to travel between and among countries.
According to the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Mrs Elizabeth Ofosu-Agyare, “the move is the only way to ensure that all countries have a greater share of global international tourism arrival receipts”.
The minister was addressing the just-ended 20th Assembly of the UNWTO in Zimbabwe.
The meeting, co-hosted by Zimbabwe and Zambia, was attended by a record 900 delegates, made up of 121 delegates from the member states, 49 foreign ministers and 750 other participants.
Mrs Ofosu-Agyare expressed the hope that the symbolism of the co-hosting would not be lost on the participants and acknowledged the ease with which delegates and tourists were assisted to cross into the two countries.
She also called for a clearer relationship between tourism and air transport.
She used the platform to inform the world about the Ghanaian government’s liberalisation of the aviation sector, a policy which, she said, had resulted in a phenomenal increase in the number of airlines operating into Accra and within Ghana.
In his address, the UNWTO Secretary-General, Mr Taleb Rifai, said the organisation was committed to promoting tourism growth in sub-Saharan Africa.
“We affirm our commitment to place tourism high on the political and economic agenda and to ensure that we co-operate ever more to promote policies that ensure sustainable and exclusive growth in this industry,” he said.
The Zimbabwean President, Robert Mugabe, who addressed the opening ceremony, said UNWTO’s decision to hold the global event in Zimbabwe and Zambia inspired the two countries to maintain friendly relations with the international community.
He said it was very critical that Africa evolved strategies to effectively lure tourists to the continent.
On the sidelines of the assembly, the Ghanaian delegation had individual meetings with counterpart ministers from Zambia, Iran, Turkey, South Africa and Zimbabwe.
With each of them there was an agreement for the exchange of experts to facilitate the implementation of existing protocols.
The meetings were facilitated by the heads of Ghana’s diplomatic missions, including Madam Elizabeth Benneh (Zambia), Mr James Naadjie (Zimbabwe) and Mrs Martha Pobee (South Africa)
The Ghanaian delegation included the Chief Director of the Ministry of Tourism, Mr Okyere Darko Ababio; Dr Joel Sonne, the Director for Projects; Mr Humphrey Kuma, Director, PPME, and Mr Sampson Donkor, acting Executive Director of the Ghana Tourism Authority.
