The Deputy Brong-Ahafo regional Director of the Ghana Tourism Authority, Mr Joseph Appiagyei, has called on the private sector to synergise with the authority to push tourism development agenda forward.

He also appealed to the various district assemblies in the region to partner the authority to effectively develop tourism in their areas. Mr Appiagyei noted that effective marketing and publicity of the region would greatly enhance tourism in the region. Mr. Appiagyei made the call in a speech delivered at the Bui National Park to mark this year’s regional tourism day. The theme for the celebration was “Tourism and Sustainable Energy-Powering Sustainable development”.

He said noted that nature has blessed the region with numerous tourist sites, ranging from cultural, historical to ecotourism products. “However, tourism would be more meaningful when the needed value is added to what nature has endowed the region with”, he said.

The regional deputy director pointed out that an NGO, Mission of Hope, has expressed the willingness to partner the authority to develop some of the tourist attractions in the region.

Mr Appiagyei urged tourism operators in the region to endeavour to acquaint themselves with the new tourism ACT 817 which has introduced the tourism levy to develop the industry.By the new act, the public would contribute a percentage from their service fees to a tourism development fund.