Tourism enterprises have been urged to embrace digitalisation and innovation after the COVID-19 pandemic to drive sustainable and inclusive progress of tourism in Africa.
In keeping with the Deputy Chief Government Officer answerable for Operations, Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), Mr Ekow Sampson, that may allow companies to extend their effectivity and effectiveness within the tourism worth chain.
Mr Sampson mentioned this on the climax of the sixth Accra-Weizo West African Journey Epo 2023 organised by Akwaaba Journey Market, Nigeria in collaboration with GTA in Accra on Friday.
Themed ‘Tourism Improvement by way of Digitalisation,’ the Expo aimed toward making a seamless journey atmosphere in West Africa to deliver collectively journey professionals from the Sub-region.
“The theme is acceptable as a result of tourism and technological development have been tightly interwoven for the previous 25 years,” Mr Sampson mentioned.
He indicated that web and knowledge applied sciences have been essential on all operational, structural, advertising and marketing, and strategic ranges to facilitate world communication between suppliers, shoppers, and intermediaries.
One of many many methods, Mr Sampson mentioned adopted by the GTA was to create native and worldwide consciousness of Ghana’s Tourism merchandise by way of participation in each native and worldwide Tourism Festivals and Exhibitions.
Nigeria he mentioned was a serious supply market so far as Ghana’s tourism was concern and continued to play a significant function in Ghana’s tourism enterprise.
“Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire and Liberia remained among the many high ten arrival nations, with about 9.5 per cent, 1.8 per cent and 1.6 per cent of complete annual arrivals respectively in Ghana,” he added.
Mr Sampson expressed gratitude to organisers for the programme within the improvement and promotion of tourism within the West Africa sub-region.
The Director of Human Useful resource, Ministry of Tourism, Artwork and Tradition, Mr Vitus Otoo Langmagne in a speech learn on behalf of the sector minister, Dr Mohammed Ibrahim Awal mentioned the initiative had offered the platform for Ghana to guide the dialogue on tourism improvement promotion within the sub-region.
He inspired trade gamers to embrace digitisation, utilise it successfully to drive sustainable tourism progress in West Africa.
“Digitalisation being the key driver in vacationer knowledge assortment and dissemination is critically on this course of. Journey professionals should champion these causes,” Mr Langmagne added.
The Organiser of the Akwaaba Journey Market, Nigeria, Mr Ikechie Uko, mentioned the Accra Weizo was geared in direction of getting stakeholders within the tourism trade in West Africa to cooperate amongst themselves.
He said that regardless of the large challenges, Africa may obtain extra with collaborative synergies and cooperation as a substitute of competitors.
He known as for the necessity to encourage West Africans to journey throughout the area to develop its home market and harness its alternatives.
