Akwaaba! 50 countries coming for World Tourism Day (Front Page)

THE prevailing excitement and euphoria characterising the centenary celebration of Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, will earn a further boost today with the ushering in of a programme to project Ghana as host of this year’s World Tourism Day.
Being held on the theme, "Tourism, Celebrating Diversity" Ghana will be at the centre of the tourism world between now and Sunday, at a time the country also celebrates the life of Africa’s foremost revolutionary, Dr Nkrumah.
The world tourism celebration is expected to attract delegates from more than 50 countries worldwide. And according to the United Nations, the celebration is to create the awareness that tourism is vital to the international community and showcase its effect on social, cultural, political, and economic values worldwide.
A release from the Ministry of Tourism in Accra indicated that already in the country were 11 world renowned travel writers which include international journalists and broadcasting experts, editors, photographers and reporters from major travel industry publications, as well as freelance writers.
They are said to represent publications in renowned world tourism destinations such as Spain, United Kingdom, United States, France, Italy, Holland and Canada.
Among activities planned to celebrate this special occasion are an exhibition for tourism industry players, which include hotels, tourism attraction sites, incentive travel organisers, travel and tour operators, cruise ship organisers and special event promoters. The events will take place at the Accra International Conference Centre between Tuesday, September 22 to September 27, 2009.
There will also be a gastronomy fair to promote indigenous Ghanaian cuisine on Friday, September 25, 2009 and an official Cocoa Trail to Tetteh Quarshie's original farm through the Cocoa Research Institute at Tafo to the Bunso arboretum to afford delegates the opportunity of knowing the origins and the economic significance of cocoa to Ghana and the world.
As part of the celebration, a tourism conference, a communication conference and a think tank forum on the theme, "Tourism, celebrating diversity" will be organised to highlight the variety which is at the very centre of the tourism industry.
Panellists at the think tank will be selected from representatives of National Tourism Administrators, national and local governments, accommodation providers, educational institutions, district assemblies, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and the media.
Other than adding perspective to the role of globalisation in balancing tourism influx and environmental and cultural sustainability, this year’s theme also aims to shed light on the most human side of the industry — its capacity to build understanding, foster social inclusion, and promote higher standards of living.
Meanwhile, the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) Secretary-General, Dr Taleb Rifai, underscores tourism’s potential as a reliable job creator and contributor to wealth.
“There is increasing awareness of tourism’s role as a productive activity and its undisputed potential to generate employment, income, and other benefits whether directly or through induced effects in the economy. Tourism is a global industry and as such has a responsibility to make positive contributions worldwide.”
World Tourism Day is celebrated every year on September 27. Its purpose is to foster awareness among the international community of the importance of tourism and its social, cultural, political, and economic value. The event seeks to address global challenges outlined in the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and to highlight the contributions the tourism sector can make in reaching these goals.
Since 1980, the United Nations World Tourism Organisation has celebrated World Tourism Day on September 27. This date was chosen, since it was that day in 1970 that the Statutes of the UNWTO were adopted. The adoption of these Statutes is considered a milestone in global tourism.
At its Twelfth Session in Istanbul, Turkey, in October of 1997, the UNWTO General Assembly decided to designate a host country each year to act as the Organisation’s partner in the celebration of World Tourism Day.
At its Fifteenth Session in Beijing, China, in October of 2003, the Assembly decided the following geographic order to be followed for World Tourism Day celebrations: 2006 in Europe; 2007 in South Asia; 2008 in the Americas and 2009 in Africa.