Business News of Thursday, 1 March 2007

Source: GNA

TMA to generate revenue through tourism promotion

Tema, March 01, GNA - The Tema Municipal Assembly (TMA) is collaborating with the Greenwich Council of United Kingdom (UK) to promote tourism in the Tema Municipality as economic venture to supplement its revenue generation source for development. In that direction, the TMA on Wednesday held a day's workshop on capacity building for related stakeholders in the hospitality industry and would in turn impart the knowledge to others.

With resource persons from the United Kingdom, the participants, made up of educationists, traditionalists, traders and social workers are expected to identify the strengths and desired future direction for the tourist industry of Tema and Sekondi/Takoradi.

It is also expected to offer them the opportunity to understudy the expertise of the UK partners and identify training needs for the tourism sector as well as management techniques that could be used in any organizational context.

Speaking to the GNA at the workshop, Mr. Frank Asante, Public Relations Officer of the TMA, who is also the Coordinator for the tourism project noted that Tema, the industrial nerve of the nation has a lot of tourism potentials that remains untapped. The sub-region is also the first point of entry via the sea to the country and attracts a lot of foreigners who should have places of interest and relaxation.

In a bid to provide excellent hospitality to the foreigners, he said frontline staff such as receptionists, secretaries and hoteliers have been trained, while drivers are expected to benefit from the training programme.

Mr. Asante stressed the need for other staff whose work brings them into contact with visitors to exhibit high cordial human relations in order to attract visitors into the country.