The Youth in Tourism Festival (YOTOFEST)2019 on Thursday organised a media launch in Accra with a call on the youth to tap the job creation potentials of the tourism sector.

YOTOFEST is an integral part of the “Year of Return;” the commemoration of the return of the Africans in the Diaspora after 400 years of slavery.

It was on the theme: “My Culture, My Pride,” and would be celebrated from July 1 to 20.

Activities earmarked for the YOTOFEST include public lectures, float, exhibition and music galore.

Speaking at the Launch, Mr Akwasi Agyemang, the Chief Executive Officer, Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), urged the youth to pay more attention to the job creation potentials of the industry.

He said the sector had provided one out of 11 jobs across the globe.

Mr Agyemang said the tourism industry did not only provide jobs for food vendors but also improved the transport business as well as education through the tourism educational sites.

“I want you to look at the career choices in Tourism as you consider job plans in the future. The sector holds a number of jobs for you,” he said.

He said the sector would not be able to thrive without the efforts of the youth, hence, lauded the Tourism Society of Ghana (TOSOGHA) for ensuring that some aspects of tourism had been inculcated in the Ghana Education Service Curriculum.

Mr Agyemang said he was elated that the TOSOGHA could now boast of 314 clubs in the various basic, secondary and tertiary educational institutions adding that; “it is prudent that we catch them young.”

On the Year of Return Ghana 2019, he tasked the youth to tap into its benefits since the country was going to experience an increase in the number of tourists.

Mrs Olivia Opoku Adman, the Director for Research, Policy Planning, Statistics and Information, Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, who performed the launch, commended President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for not leaving the youth behind in celebrating the Year of Return.

She said it would afford people in the Diaspora the opportunity to return home after embarking on the journey of “no return” 400 years ago. Mr Joseph Amarh-Amartey, a Youth Ambassador, explained that YOTOFEST as a potential platform would effectively and efficiently market Ghanaian indigenous culture and heritage values for international patronage.

He said it would also tap the youthful skill and talent brands through the industrial revolution of local artefacts.

“The exhibition of exclusive culinary skills, display of traditional artefacts involving arts galleries, traditional drama and poetic performances will be unfolded.”

Mr Amarh-Amartey said that YOTOFEST would bring about a careful selection of music legendries who would assist the youth to appreciate and acknowledge heritage values and moral etiquettes.

The media launch of the Festival would afford members of TOSOGHA the opportunity to elect their national executives at the Annual National Delegate’s Conference in Accra, on the theme: Rejuvenating the National School Project (NSP): Domestic Tourism Clubs.”