The Chamber of Tourism Industry Ghana (CTI) has called on the various stakeholders to explore avenues in rural tourism.
The CTI made this call as it marked the World Tourism Day with the rest of the global community, where they encouraged the stakeholders to take advantage of tourism in rural areas and create opportunities for development.
Speaking on the 2020 World Tourism Day celebration, the Chief Executive Officer (COO) of CTI Ghana, Angela Akua Asante, said that, it has been reported that a bit over 43% of Ghana’s population is rural and it’s a great balance to maintain in order to avoid over-populated urban cities like the capital of Accra.
“What this means also is that there’s consequently more ground to cover in rural tourism. This is why we are looking to deepen our partnership with the Ghana Tourism Authority for data collection, or again with the Tour Operators Union of Ghana to boost tours and activities such as planting trees in rural areas.
“We, at the Chamber for Tourism Industry Ghana, advocate for the development of rural areas. Tourism must always align with the regeneration of the environment and economic growth for the locals.”
She further went on to say that, as a nation, Ghana has no shortage of sites of cultural heritage, both of local and global significance and as the world continues to recognize the tourism potential of Ghana, particularly for the African diaspora, and as we begin to mark the decade-long celebration of the “Beyond the Return” initiative of the government, following the success of the “Year of Return” year-long festivities, it is important to focus on the potential of the global recognition to develop the nation’s rural sites.
She further said that, there has never been a better time to direct resources towards developing rural communities, particularly those with strong historical significance, in order to situate these better to boost their potential adding that there is a need particularly for chiefs and rural leaders, to prepare their citizenry to position themselves well to tap into the industry at the very grassroots level to create job opportunities in the rural communities which are often overlooked in development projects.
Just recently, Charles Buabin, Tema Regional Director, Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), said tourism plays a crucial role in promoting and fostering sustainable rural development.
He said rural tourism could be stimulated and enhanced further to contribute immensely in income generation and job creation for a diversified rural economy.
According to him, rural tourism was increasingly becoming important, contributing to the development of communities and the sustainability of rural populations and economy generally.
