Tamale, Sept. 26, GNA- The Ministry of Tourism and the Modernization of the Capital City is to establish a first class reception centre and a museum to boost tourism in Salaga in the East Gonja District of the Northern Region.

Plans are underway to look for a suitable site for the construction of the facilities, which will include shops and offices to attract more tourists to the area.

Mr Ernest Debrah, the Northern Regional Minister announced this in Tamale at a day's symposium for stakeholders in the tourism industry, as part of activities marking this year's World Tourism Day to be celebrated at Kintampo in Brong Ahafo.

The symposium brought together hotel operators and other stakeholders to deliberate and see how best tourism in the Northern Region could be improved.

This year's World Tourism Day has the theme: "Tourism- the Driving Force for Poverty Alleviation, Job Creation and Social Harmony."

The Minister said " the region will benefit from the second phase of the Community-Based Eco-Tourism projects at Saakpula and Savelugu" and that Peace Corps Volunteers were expected to help Savelugu/Nanton and the Tolon/Kumbungu Districts to develop tourism there.

He said the regional tourism committee has drawn a draft action plan with the objective of ensuring that all districts in the Northern region are covered to alleviate poverty.

Mr Debrah said the government's economic policy of rural development and poverty alleviation with the private sector was a driving force adding that it places a high premium on tourism to enhance lives.

Mr E.A. Hammond, the Regional Manager of the Ghana Tourists Board (GTB), said this year's World Tourism Day is being used to create awareness about opportunities offered by the sector in generating incomes, employment and to reduce poverty.

He said there are a lot for businessmen to benefit from the tourism industry and advised the stakeholders to make good use of opportunities available to enhance their businesses.

Topics treated at the symposium included "investment and job opportunities in the tourism industry", "Micro Financing", "Legislative Instruments Regulating the tourism industry" and Bank credits-Tourism portfolio".