Accra, Feb. 3, GNA - The Director General of the Universal Federation of Travel Agents Associations, Mr Birger Buckman, left Accra on Monday for Monaco, after attending the Ghana Association of Travel and Tourist Agents (GATTA) Awards in Accra.

In a pre-departure interview, Mr Buckman observed that the efforts of President John Agyekum Kufuor, who is also ECOWAS Chairman towards achieving peace in West Africa, would go a long way to promote tourism within the sub-region.

He said Ghana had great tourism potentials, which could be tapped for the benefit of the country.

Mr Buckman mentioned the beautiful beaches as well as forests as some of the assets and said there was the need to develop other areas such as the road network to promote tourism.

He said, however, that everything was not going to be achieved over-night, adding that, with effort and time a lot could be achieved. Mr Ferdinand Ayim, Special Assistant to the Minister of Tourism, said although Ghana's tourism sector had some problems it still had a lot to offer.

He urged Mr Buckman to help in educating the international community on the tourism assets of Ghana and the sub-region.

Mr Godwin Pinto, President of GATTA, presented a souvenir to Mr Buckman on behalf of the Association.