WESTERN REGION HOSTS WORLD TOURISM DAY 2013
Hon. Mrs. Elizabeth Ofosua-Adjare delivering a speech during the launch |
The
Ministry of tourism, culture and creative arts in collaboration with Ministries
of Energy and Petroleum; Water Resources, Works and Housing; and the Western Regional
Coordinating Council has organized a
stakeholders workshop in Accra at Cleaver House on Tuesday 24th
September 2013, to mark the celebration of the this years World tourism day.
It
is on the theme “Tourism and Water: Protecting our common future”, which
is in support of the United Nations
International Year of Water Co-operation seeks to highlight the symbiotic
relationship that exists between tourism and water, and the extent to which the
two impact on each other.
Ghana
has over the years joined the United Nations World Tourism Organization
(UNWTO), to partake in the celebration of the world Tourism day which comes off
every year on the 27th of September
The
celebration which is aimed at creating further awareness among the
international community on the social, cultural, political and economic
importance of tourism equally seeks to address the Millennium Development Goals
(MDGs) and to highlight the contribution the tourism sector can make in meeting
these goals.
This
year’s theme “Tourism and Water: Protecting our common future” is in support of
the United Nations International Year of Water Co-operation which seeks to
highlight the symbiotic relationship that exists between tourism and water, and
the extent to which the two impact on each other. This is in recognition of
WATER as one of tourism’s most precious resources, hence the need to devise
innovative strategies to ensure tourism’s contribution to sustainable access to
water resources worldwide.
The World Tourism Day 2013 is a unique
opportunity to raise awareness of tourism’s role in water access and shine a
spotlight on the sector’s contribution to a more sustainable water future which
addresses the following key issues:
·
Clean and readily accessible fresh water is
one of tourism’s most-precious resources
·
Excessive water consumption coupled with
weak water management is a great limitation to universal access to safe water.
·
Tourism can and should provide
environmentally sound solutions, as well as political and financial support for
the conservation and sustainable use of fresh water sources.
· That, the Ministry has to further promote
the contribution of tourism to sustainability-related issues, especially to
climate change response and the management of water resources.
The Minister of Tourism, Culture & Creative
Arts, Hon. Mrs. Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, told Journalists during the media
launch at the Cleaver House in Adabraka,Accra that the choice of the Western
Region is in line with the Ministry’s rotational policy of ensuring that each
region is given the opportunity to host the National Day Celebrations in order
to showcase its tourism potentials for tourists’ patronage and to attract
investments. Apart from the National Day celebrations slated for the Western
Region, there will also be Regional Celebrations throughout the country. “Again, we have chosen Nkroful to be part of Kwame
Nkrumah’s birthday and showcase the tourism potentials of his hometown. I must
highly commend my colleague Ministers for Energy and Petroleum, Water
Resources, Works & Housing as well as the Western Regional Minister and the
Co-ordinating Council for their outstanding co-operation, commitment and
dedication towards the organization of this year’s World Tourism Day
celebration” she disclosed.
She
outlined series of activities lined up for the
commemoration of the weekly
celebration which includes a football gala which came off last Saturday,
September 21st at the Accra Technical Training Centre in Kokomlemle(Accra)
at 8:30am. Followed by a stakeholders’ workshop on theme “Tourism and Water:
Protecting our common future” which is taking place today 26th
September in Takoradi. The highpoint of the celebration according to her will
be on Friday, September 27th, beginning with a familiarization tour
to the Gas Processing Plant at Atuabo; to be followed by a Grand Durbar of
Chiefs, Invited Dignitaries, and the people of the Western Region. There will
also be a post event Ambassadorial tour for Diplomats, Ministers of State and
Parliamentarians on Saturday, September 28; ending with beach and coastal jams
at the La Pleasure Beach (Accra), Half Assini, Atuabo and Axim on September 29.
The
Secretary General of United Nations Tourism Organization, Mr. Taleb Rifai, disclosed
the 2013 celebration “is truly a unique opportunity. He remarked that the world
need to throw spotlight on water as the most valuable human asset and resource,
and on the actions needed to face up to the water challenge adding, tourism is
today one of the largest economic sectors in the world therefore the tourism
sector must take a leadership role and ensure companies and destinations invest
in adequate water management throughout the value chain. He also stressed that
tourism can bring benefits at the national and local community levels and
support water preservation.
Comments
Post a Comment