Tourism Minister urges MMDCs to identify and promote local tourist attractions
The Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, has urged Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCs) in the Bono Region to take an active role in identifying, developing and promoting tourist attractions and cultural assets in their respective areas.
She said local authorities were well positioned to identify tourism opportunities within their communities and to work with the Ministry and relevant agencies to develop them into attractions that contribute to local economic development.
Madam Gomashie made the call on Wednesday during an engagement with MMDCs in the Bono Region as part of her familiarisation tour of the region.
The engagement focused on the role of local authorities in harnessing the tourism, culture and creative arts potential of the region and creating an environment that could attract investment into the sector.
She urged the MMDCs to work closely with the Ministry and its agencies to preserve cultural heritage, develop tourist attractions and promote the region as a destination for domestic and international visitors.
The Minister said effective collaboration between local authorities and the tourism sector would help ensure that the region’s tourism and cultural resources were properly identified, developed and promoted.
She encouraged the MMDCs to support initiatives that would improve tourism infrastructure and service delivery in their respective jurisdictions.
Madam Gomashie said the development of tourism required the active participation of stakeholders at the national, regional and local levels.
She stressed that the sector could contribute to the development of communities when local authorities recognised and supported the tourism and cultural assets available within their areas.
She urged stakeholders to build on existing opportunities and ensure that their efforts help support a stronger tourism, culture and creative arts sector for future generations.
Irene Wirekoaa Osei, ISD
