Let’s promote peace to drive tourism – GTA Director

Mr Wisdom Ahadzi, the Upper East Regional Director of the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) has called on stakeholders to promote peace before, during and after 2024 general election.He said tourism thrived on peaceful environment and it was imperative for stakeholders to work together and encouraged all citizens to join the campaign for peaceful election.Speaking to the Ghana News Agency in an interview on the sidelines of a clean-up exercise as part of activities to mark this year's World Tourism Day on the theme 'Tourism and Peace', Mr Ahadzi said 'when we have peace, tourism will flourish'.The exercise which saw other stakeholders in the tourism industry joining, cleaned up the surroundings of the Upper East Regional museum in Bolgatanga, the Bolgatanga Craft Village and the Centre for National Culture.The Regional Director explained that the region and Ghana as a whole was endowed with lots of tourism potential that could be a catalyst for sustainable development, adding that tourism must continue t o thrive after the election.'We are encouraging every citizen and because we are in an election year, we are telling everyone that we want to use tourism to develop this country, promote economic value of our people, so, we expect that everyone will adhere to peace.'You will agree with me that no traveller will go to a place where there is instability and the Upper East Region, the perception of conflict is there, so we want to do everything possible to hammer on peace', he said.Ms Prisca Naambome Yenzie, the Upper East Regional Director of the Museum, lauded the efforts of the GTA to clean up the premises of her office, adding that it would help beautify the place and attract tourists.She said the museum was a hub of history and culture of the people and encouraged the public to visit it to learn more about their roots to inform future planning, appreciation and development.Mr Collins Ahmed Edwards, the Upper East Regional Director of the CNC, encouraged the stakeholders in the tourism industry to collaborate to harness the tourism potentials in the area for sustainable development.Source: Ghana News Agency