The Executive Chairman of the Inter Tourism Expo (iNTTA), Emmanuel Treku, has urged the government to treat tourism as a strategic economic sector capable of driving investment, job creation and national development.
He said tourism should go beyond cultural promotion and hospitality to become a key contributor to Ghana’s 24-hour economy and broader industrial development agenda.
In a welcome message at the opening ceremony of the 6th Inter Tourism Expo and Conference, on Wednesday, October 21, at the Ridge Royal Hotel in Cape Coast, Mr Treku said the country must take deliberate steps to harness its tourism potential.
The expo, held under the theme “The 24-Hour Africa Economy, Tourism, Agribusiness, Digital Sovereignty & AfCFTA Industrial Acceleration”, seeks to connect tourism development with investment opportunities, agribusiness, digital innovation and industrial growth.
Mr Treku said Ghana’s heritage, culture, coastline, hospitality industry, creative industries and natural resources offered opportunities for enterprise development, capital mobilisation and sustainable livelihoods.
“Our message to Government is clear: tourism must be treated not merely as a cultural and hospitality activity, but as a strategic economic sector that can support the 24-hour economy, strengthen local value chains, attract investment and create sustainable employment,” he said.
He called for stronger coordination among the tourism, finance, trade, agriculture, transport, infrastructure, technology and industry sectors, with the private sector playing a key role in implementing policies and investment initiatives.
Mr Treku also invited government institutions, development partners, investors, financial institutions, tourism operators and entrepreneurs to use the expo as a platform to develop practical partnerships and identify viable projects.
He said discussions at the event would focus on investment facilitation, tourism infrastructure, skills development, access to finance, destination readiness, digital innovation and removing barriers to business growth.
Cape Coast, he noted, offered an appropriate setting for the discussions because of its historical significance, cultural heritage and coastal attractions, which could be leveraged to stimulate local enterprise and attract investment.
The programme will also include engagements in Greater Accra and the Savannah Region, where participants are expected to explore the links between tourism, agribusiness and industrial development.
Site visits to the Savannah Region are scheduled for October 25 and 26, with activities to be hosted by the Yagbonwura, the overlord of Gonja land.
Mr Treku said the expo’s ambition was to establish lasting partnerships that would translate Ghana’s tourism potential into tangible economic opportunities.
The 6th iNTTA is expected to bring together tourism stakeholders, business leaders, traditional authorities and international partners to explore opportunities for sustainable tourism development and economic cooperation.