Accra, July 27, GNA -- Sixteen organizations on Thursday presented sponsorship packages to the Ghana Tourist Board to support the Seventh National Tourism Awards to be held on August 11, 2006. The companies include Guinness Ghana Breweries Group, the major sponsors, who supported the event with drinks and money worth 117 million cedis.

Duffry Limited together with the Ghana Tourism Development Company gave 20 million cedis while Tobinco Pharmacy is supporting the event with pharmaceuticals.

The School of Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism, a hospitality training school that advocates professionalism in the tourism industry, is offering sponsorship to the tune of 53 million cedis by way of scholarships to awards winners to pursue certificate and diploma programmes.

Labadi Beach Hotel would sponsor the cocktail party on the night of the award ceremony and also pledged continuous support for the event. Papaye Fast Food Limited gave 10 million cedis; Volta Hotel presented five million cedis while Traffix Catering Services promised the provision of local delicacies for the cocktail party.

Crisaach Carpets Limited would give winners carpets worth 10 million cedis, Paramount Distilleries is helping the event with 10 million cedis worth of drinks and three million cedis cash; State Insurance Company and Ghana Civil Aviation Authority gave 20 million cedis each; Clearing Solutions gave detergents in support of the event while Somotex Company Limited presented the Board with a 29-inch television set worth 10 million cedis.

The media partners supporting the event, Metro TV; Graphic Communications Group; Chronicle, Statesman and Accra Daily Mail, were also recognized.

Mr Martin Mireku, Acting Director of the Ghana Tourists Board, said there was the need to appreciate excellence in the tourism industry hence the institution of the awards ceremony. He noted that tourism was a multi-faceted industry that needed the support of all.

While appreciating the efforts of the organizations that donated towards the event, Mr Mireku urged sponsors to sustain their interest in tourism, which was becoming a top class industry.