Accra, Aug. 27, GNA - The Ghana Tourism Federation (GHATOF), on Thursday called for a change in the waste disposal habits of Ghanaians and said it was hampering the growth of the tourism industry. Mrs Stella Appenteng, President of GHATOF said environmental sanitation was becoming problematic particularly in cities along the beach and called on the public health agencies to work hard to avoid epidemics that could eventually erode all the gains made in the tourism sector.

"Sanitation is one area that emerging tourism destinations like Ghana cannot ignore if we are to attract high class tourists," She said. She shared the above concerns at public forum organized by GHATOF on the theme: "Clean Tourism, Hospitable Climates." GHATOF is an umbrella body for about 21 trade associations in the tourism industry. Members of GHATOF include, car rentals, hotel operators, traditional caterers.

Mrs Appenteng said it was becoming embarrassing for tour operators to take tourists to big markets like Makola in Accra or the Kumasi Central market because of the unpleasant smell that usually emanate from poor waste management in such places. "Markets have for decades been an attraction to visitors who enjoy our culture of bargaining for wares and allows tourists to interact naturally with community members."

Mrs Appenteng said GHATOF was developing strong partnerships with Municipal, Metropolitan and District Assemblies to design sustainable programmes that could help keep the country clean. She stressed on the need for all stakeholders in the tourism industry as well as Ghanaians to help in the maintenance and restoration of the eco-system. Mrs Juliana Azumah-Mensah, Minister of Tourism, pledging the Ministry's support said it would collaborate with the Ministries of Science and Technology, Local Government and Rural Development and the District Assemblies to come out with strategies to deal with the conditions in the various communities. She tasked tourists' organizations and businesses to take responsibility for their actions, which impacted on the environment and local cultures. Linking the impact of climate change to the tourism industry, the Minister said, the tourism sector contributed about five percent of the total greenhouse emissions to the atmosphere principally through the aviation industry, accommodation, hotels and restaurants and car hiring companies.

Mrs Mensah, therefore, advocated the use of solar panels to power hotels instead of using stand-by generators. She urged them to be actively involved in the achievement of a clean environment in the country since the survival of the tourism industry depended on a clean and hospitable environment.