"Help develop tourism"

Page 30: Daily Graphic, October 21, 2008.
THE Minister of Tourism and Diasporan Relations, Mrs Oboshie Sai-Cofie, has urged tour operators to explore solidarity-based tourism to develop the tourism sector.
“The opportunity to exchange ideas should go a long way to create better understanding and build closer collaboration among citizens of the different countries,” she said.
Ms Sai-Cofie was speaking at a welcoming reception in Accra on Monday for a special caravan, dubbed “Solidarity-based Caravan 2008”, en route from Benin to Mali through Ghana to attend the third International Forum on Solidarity-based Tourism (FITS) from October 20 to 22, 2008.
Solidarity-based tourism involves the hosting of representatives in a caravan travelling through various countries visiting eco-tourism sites and discussing issues of sustainable development.
With the French Government as a major sponsor, FITS is an initiative of non-governmental organisations and associations, to make governments more aware of the special nature of eco-tourism as well as facilitate the exchange of ideas and sharing of experiences about the challenges facing the sector.
Five Ghanaians would join the West African caravan through Burkina Faso to Mali for the event, which would also attract delegations from Cote d’Ivoire, Cameroum and France.
As part of the programme, the solidarity-based caravans, one of which would start from France, would visit eco-tourism sites in the countries they would be passing through.
Mrs Sai-Cofie advised Ghanaian participants to endeavour to learn and impact on their counterparts during their interaction.
She affirmed that Ghana fully embraced the initiative and was appreciative for her inclusion in the programme.
She pointed out that the opportunity for the delegates to interact with local communities would also provide avenues to foster international solidarity, peace and unity among the various countries.
The leader of the delegation, Mr Gautier K. Amoussou, observed that Ghana abounded in tourism potentials especially in the area of eco-tourism.
He, however, said there were a number of challenges in the eco-tourism sector especially in the area of providing potable water for tourists.
Mr Amoussou observed that many women were engaged in other tourist activities such as handicrafts and called for support for such women to expand their business.