Kumasi, May 3, GNA- Mr Ben Anane Nsiah, Acting Ashanti Regional Manager of the Ghana Tourist Board (GTB), on Thursday urged Ghanaians to protect and preserve their historical heritage and cultural identity in the face of globalization.

He said globalization should not be allowed to erode the rich cultural and historical heritage, which could be explored as a huge tourism potential to the benefit of the people.

Mr Nsiah was speaking at a day's sensitization seminar for district officials of the Information Services Department from the Ashanti Region on Thursday in Kumasi.

The seminar was organised to sensitise participants on how tourism could be used as a tool to promote socio-economic development and eradicate poverty.

It was also aimed helping participants to identify potential tourism sites in the region and equipping the officials with information on the various tourist sites in region.

Mr. Nsiah urged the people to help identify and develop tourist sites adding tourism, which was the fastest growing industry in the world, could help in transforming the lives of the people. He noted that, community-based Eco-tourism was one of the strategies being adopted to alleviate poverty in rural communities and said fourteen-ecotourism destination sites have been identified and currently being promoted across the country.

Mr. Nsiah mentioned the Tano Sacred grove and Boabeng Fiema monkey sanctuary in the Brong-Ahafo Region, Paga crocodile pond and Nania slave camp as well as Widnaba site in the Upper East Region, Wechiau Hippo sanctuary, Tongo Hill and Tengzug Shrines and Sirigu Pottery and Art in the Upper East Region.

Others are the Amedzofe Mountains, Tagbo Falls in the Volta Region, Wassa Domama Rock shrine in the Western Region, Bobiri forest and butterfly sanctuary in the Ashanti Region, Tafi-Atome monkey sanctuary and Xavi bird watching sanctuary also in the Volta Region. Mr. Nsiah said district information officers have been identified as key stakeholders in tourism promotion and development in the country and urged to identify potential ecotourism sites for development. Mr Ekow Simpson, Chief Architect of the GTB, said there had been significant development of tourism in country over the years. He said "Ghana have abundant historical and cultural heritage, man-made sites ecotourism sites and political stability for the development of the tourist industry".

Mr Simpson called for a legislation to protect investments in the tourism sector.

Mr Charles Buabin, Senior Marketing Officer of GTB, urged the participants to orientate the communities on tourism related issues.