The Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, has reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to promoting domestic tourism as a major catalyst for economic growth in Ghana.

Speaking at a press briefing during the Public Accounts Committee public hearing in Ada, the Minister assured that her Ministry would continue to roll out measures aimed at strengthening the tourism sector and making it more attractive to both local and foreign investors.

Hon. Gomashie, therefore, encouraged Ghanaians to explore more tourist destinations within the country, stressing that increased domestic tourism would help boost local businesses, create jobs, and contribute significantly to national economic development.

“Ghanaians must develop the habit of touring their own country because domestic tourism has the potential to grow local economies and create employment opportunities,” she stated.

She further called on the private sector to increase investment in the tourism industry, noting that although the sector is public sector-led, it remains largely private sector-driven.

According to her, government is committed to creating an enabling environment for investors through favourable policies and legislative support to help the industry thrive.

The Minister also acknowledged concerns over the poor state of roads leading to some tourist destinations across the country and assured that steps would be taken to address the challenge to improve accessibility to tourism sites.

Touching on complaints about high charges within the hospitality sector, Hon. Gomashie explained that taxes, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) charges, and utility tariffs significantly influence pricing within the industry.

She maintained that despite the challenges, government remains focused on positioning tourism as a vital contributor to Ghana’s economic transformation.

The details of the briefing were sighted on the official Facebook page of the Parliament of Ghana.

Sompaonline.com/Derrrick Djan