Accra, Sept. 1, GNA - Mr Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, Minister of Tourism and Modernization of the Capital City, said on Monday an improvement in the tourism potential would help reduce poverty and generate employment. Mr Obetsebi-Lamptey said this when he launched this year's World Tourism Day in Accra, which falls on September 27, every year. He said efforts would be centred on sensitising the public and putting in structures that would ensure full realisation of the benefits of the tourism industry in reducing poverty and reducing unemployment in the country.

The Buabeng-Fiema Monkey Sanctuary and Kimtampo Falls, both in the Brong Ahafo Region have been chosen as venues for the national celebration.

Mr Obetsebi-Lamptey said the choice of the theme: "Tourism: A Driving Force for Poverty Alleviation, Job Creation and Social Harmony" clearly shows the enormous potentials of the industry which had become the fastest growing sector in the world and Ghana today.

This he said, President John Agyekum Kufuor had recognised hence his designation of tourism as one of the three key pillars that must be looked at to accelerate economic growth in the country.

He said the occasion would also be used to create awareness on the tourists' sites in the country and promote interest in domestic tourism. Mr Obetsebi-Lamptey said Ghana is a place worth exploring and enjoying and to enable the country to derive the maximum benefit from tourism, the Ministry must attract about one million visitors into the country to earn about 1.5 billion dollars in 2007.