Minister for Tourism, Creative Arts and Culture, Dr. Ibrahim Mohammed Awal, says his outfit is targeting to rake in over $3 billion into the country’s economy through tourism by the end of the year 2023.
The Minister indicated that it will work hard with its various stakeholders including the Ghana Tourism Authority to ensure that it is able to attract 1.2 million international arrivals.
Speaking at the launch of the Ghana Tourism Authority’s 50th-anniversary celebration and Tourism report, Ibrahim Mohammed Awal underscored the Akufo-Addo-led administration’s commitment to improving and attracting tourists into the country in the coming years.
He also announced that the Kwame Nkrumah Park will be renovated and revamped by June 2023 while mentioning that he remains committed to making tourism the biggest contributor to the country’s GDP.
“2023, our target is 1.2 million international arrivals. Domestic arrivals, 1.2 million as well. We are expecting to generate about $3.4 billion for this economy in 2023. We will do it. We are expecting to create 150,000 jobs in 2023. We will do it”, the minister said.
“Tourism is not just about hotels, it is not about foods, about music, about leisure, about entertainment. We are going to train about 6,000 people in the tourism sector this year to improve the quality.”
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC), Yoofi Grant also speaking at the program highlighted the need to use Ghanaians in the diaspora to promote the country’s tourism destinations.
He also stressed the importance of quality offerings in the tourism sector.
Wading into the construction of the National Cathedral project, Yoofi Grant added that there is nothing wrong with the country building the monument if it will attract tourists while citing an example of a mosque in Abu Dhabi.
“I’m sure we all know the famous mosque in Abu Dhabi. It has more visitors going there. In fact, a number of visitors go there every year than we have coming to Ghana” he said.