Vivian Arthur
According to him, the media had a crucial role to play in
putting tourist destinations in Ghana and Africa on the global map through
positive projections about the country to help boost the tourism industry.
Mr. Oduro-Antwi disclosed this in an interview with the
Ghanaian Times in Accra yesterday on the sidelines of the celebration of the
Ghana Month.
He said, though the media recently was doing well in the
promotion of the Ghanaian culture, itshould not only be limited to the Ghana
Month.
He said tourism, was one of the fastest-growing industries
in the country, therefore consistent media projections would increase both
domestic and international arrivals.
"Ghana has a rich culture and so must be projected to
the outside world anytime, every time and not wait until a particular event
before we showcase our culture or begin to portray what the country has. It
must be a continuous event to draw more tourists into the country," he
added.
Mr. Oduro-Antwi, also the President of the Global Africa
Trade Advisory Chamber (GATAC), said the importance of dedicating more coverage
to cultural activities and traditional ceremonies, such as festivals, religious
ceremonies and cultural performances through live coverage, documentary, and
editorial features were crucial to boosting the tourism receipts.
"The relationship between tourism and the media is
vital because it is highly dependent on the media due to first time travellers
who mostly take decisions based on what is reported out there.
"Gone were the days when people travel for adventure
without any knowledge about the destinations, but due to technology, travelling
has now become much easier and people now wants to explore to know more about
the places they are visiting," he stated.
Mr. Oduro-Antwi entreated media organisations to prioritise
the promotion of the Ghanaian culture and put in place policies that give
priority to culture and tourism to help preserve and promote traditions for
future generations.
He also implored the government to support the media to
boost and promote tourism culture, which was now a huge part of the local
economy.
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