By Seraphine Nyuiemedi
The Volta Regional Director of Ghana Tourism Authority, Alexander Nketia has reiterated calls for investors to take advantage of the numerous tourism opportunities in the Volta Region for good returns.
He mentioned tourism training institutions, up market ecologies, car rentals, five-star hotels, among others, as potential investment areas that must be looked at.
Mr. Nketia was speaking to GBC News during a capacity building for industry players in the Region under the GhanaCARES Obaatan Pa programme in Ho.
The GhanaCARES Obaatan Pa programme is a 100-billion Ghana cedis, three and a half-year comprehensive programme to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic with the allocation of GHS100 million to the Tourism Sector.
It is expected to increase tourist arrivals, increase jobs in the tourism sector and increase tourism’s contribution to GDP by 2% by 2023.
Participants were sensitized on topics including Tourism product knowledge, Customer care, digital marketing among others.
The Programme which is being rolled out across the country aims at giving skills upgrade to industry players so as to revitalize their businesses and improve upon the Tourism industry.
The Volta Regional Director of the Ghana Tourism Authority, Alexander Nketia called for Public Private Partnership to develop tourist attractions in the Volta Region.
On Covid-19, Mr. Nketia said the tourism industry was the most affected. He said Volta/Oti Regions recorded about 42,700 visitors at various tourist sites resulting in revenue generation of about almost GHS 226,000 in2019.
But it reduced to 9,500 visitors with revenue generation of GHC 94,000 in 2020 due to the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic whereas 2021 saw a gradual improvement with 27,800 visitors and GHC284,000 revenue as the world begins to gradually ease the Covid restrictions.
Some of the participants who spoke to GBC News thanked the organizers saying it will go a long way to enhance their businesses.
