In Tura, in a bid to boost tourism and improve tourist amenities, a new scheme called Meghalaya Tourism Development and Investment Promotion Scheme 2012 was initiated by the Tourism Department wherein entrepreneurs will be given financial assistance to establish resorts and home-stay facilities. With an increase of four percent in global tourist arrivals in the first semester of 2015, the sector follows an increasing trend that is estimated to reach 1.8 billion worldwide tourists by the year 2030. It also states that worldwide tourism contributes $1.5 billion to global trade, with a significant share going to Least Developed Countries.

In Ghana, the tourism, culture and creative arts sector has contributed phenomenally to economic growth and development at the national and local levels.

The Minister said past year, the sector maintained its position as the fourth highest foreign exchange earner after Gold, Cocoa and Oil in Ghana.

World Tourism Day has been celebrated on 27 September for 35 years and since then the industry key markets have shifted from traditional bases in Europe and North America to Asia-Pacific, which is now a major source of outbound travel bookings, particularly China.

“Every time we travel we are part of a global movement that has the power to drive inclusive development, to create jobs and to build the sustainable societies we want for our future”, said UNWTO Secretary General, Taleb Rifai in his World Tourism Day message. One of the key drivers for the domestic tourism is to develop a variety of skills through capacity building initiatives at the Local Level.

One of our initiatives is the creation of the Tourism Linkages Hub which is making good progress as we seek to ensure that the products and indeed the services that are utilized in the sector are grown or manufactured in Jamaica.

A statement signed by Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Mrs Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, said it would provide Ghana with the opportunity to celebrate the transformative potential of one billion tourists.

She said the Ministry was committed and determined to use tourism, culture and creative arts as a vital tool for achieving positive change in communities across the length and breadth of Ghana.