Tourist Facilities Cautioned Against Mediocre Practices.

The Ashanti Regional Office of the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) has marked the 2014 World Tourism Day at a ceremony at Domeabra near Kumasi with a call on tourist facilities to work within rules and regulations.

Mr. Ekow Sampson, the Regional Manager, said adhering to good practices as required by law was the only way to foster sustainable growth of the sector, saying that, tourism had the potential to transform Ghana’s economy if stakeholders shunned mediocrity in their operations.

He noted that it was necessary for all facilities to be duly registered and licensed, keep their surroundings clean, engage qualified personnel as staff and also support workers to undergo regular refresher courses to sharpen their skills and knowledge for improved performances.

The Day, marked on the theme “Tourism and Community Development”, saw the GTA sensitizing tourist clubs of some selected schools on the significance of the event and the nation’s tourist potentials.

They also paid field trips to the Kumah Farms Complex and Kumasi Institute for Tropical Agriculture to keep abreast on agricultural and eco tourism.

Mr. Sampson said the GTA had resolved to encourage the formation of tourist clubs in basic schools to boost domestic tourism.

It had also worked assiduously to train some workers in the sector on good practices.

Nana Kwaku Siaw, Managing Director of Kumah Farms, took the participants through a mini zoological garden he had created on his farms, and called on the nation to protect wildlife.

Source: GNA.