Develop comprehensive proposal to improve tourist sites - Upper East Minister urges GTA

The Upper East Regional Minister, Donatus Akamugri Atanga, has charged the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), to develop a comprehensive proposal to improve tourist sites in the region.

“Undoubtedly, such proposals would provide a clear-cut blueprint of the region's diverse tourism potential to investors both home and abroad who are willing to invest in the sector in the area,” he stressed.

He said focusing on a single tourist site at the expense of others had the tendency to limit investment in the tourism sector, adding that “it is important that a broader approach is adopted to enable stakeholders to choose sites that align with their interest”.

Courtesy call

Mr Atanga was speaking during a courtesy call on him by officials of the regional office of the GTA last Monday.

The team, which was led by the Regional Director, Wisdom Ahadzi, presented a proposal dubbed: “Leveraging tourism for the development of the region”, and also invited him to the heritage caravan organised in March by Citi FM when it reaches the region.

“Some investors may be interested in the Tongo Rocks, others may be interested in the slave camp, while others may want to invest in the Tongo Shrines, among others,” he stated and added that focusing on one site and expecting sponsorship might not materialise.

However, he indicated that if a holistic package of proposals covering various sites were readily available by the GTA, it would make it easier for potential investors to settle on which of them to invest in.

Revenue

While tasking the GTA to explore other parts of the region to identify additional potential sites in the region, he mentioned that developing such sites could create new revenue streams to support the overall development of the region.

“By developing the tourist sites, we can open new avenues for generating resources locally towards the general transformation of the region for the benefit of all,” the minister said.

Further, he acknowledged the critical role of the municipal and district assemblies (MDAs) in promoting tourism and therefore called for effective collaboration between the GTA and the MDAs towards identifying and prioritising strategic tourist sites in the region.

Fortunes

The GTA Regional Director, Mr Ahadzi, underscored the importance of tourism towards the progress of the region, saying: “As a matter of fact, tourism can be used to turn the fortunes of the region around for the benefit of all”.

He urged the minister to use his office to direct the yet-to-be-appointed municipal and district chief executives (MDCEs) to prioritise tourism in their respective jurisdictions as part of their development plans.

He also called for the improvement of the road networks leading to the respective tourist sites, saying it was the surest way to attract tourists to such facilities.

Writer’s email: gilbert.agbey@graphic.com.gh