Accra, Aug. 31, GNA - Mr Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, Minister of Tourism and Diasporan Relations, on Thursday reiterated that tourism was capable of poverty eradication in the rural areas and a major foreign exchange earner and urged Ghanaians to patronize the industry by visiting tourism sites in the various districts to make the industry viable. Mr Obetsebi-Lamptey said this at a press launch of this year's World Tourism Day on the theme: "Tourism Enriches."

He said tourism was not a foreign activity and urged Ghanaians to actively participate in activities to celebrate World Tourism Day.

"Ghanaians must know that tourism is fundamental to economic growth", he said adding that if the industry were properly managed and sustained it would have limitless growth. World Tourism Day is celebrated on September 27 every year to draw attention to tourism and its role in the socio-economic development of nations.

This year's national celebration would be at Gwollu, a town in the Upper West Region, the birthplace of the late President Hilla Limann. The town has a variety of tourist attractions.

Among attractions in Gwollu are the hippopotamus sanctuary; the unique defence wall that was built centuries ago to protect the people in the town from slave raiders; a bone-setters clinic where herbs and traditional rituals are used to completely heal broken bone and a Viagra Centre that uses only herbs to restore male potency. An activity to mark World Tourism Day is a tour for deprived children in Accra. The Ministry would also liaise with the Ministry of Education, Science and Sports to get schools to tour various tourist sites in their regions.

A message from the World Tourism Organization to all countries celebrating Tourism day said tourism was vital to the balance of payments of many countries, especially small, developing nations, for whom it is often their only way of competing in the dynamic global services sector.

"Tourism enriches families and communities would be much poorer in spirit and in the pocket without the opportunities that they provide."