Addressing participants, the GTA CEO said the region’s unique blend of natural attractions, cultural richness, and creative potential places it at the forefront of Ghana’s tourism growth agenda.

She noted that tourism has become a major economic driver globally, and the Volta Region possesses the kind of authentic assets that can attract substantial investment and boost local economies.

She also mentioned the region’s waterfalls, monkey sanctuaries, sacred groves, beaches, craft villages, and festivals as key attractions that, if fully developed, could elevate the Volta Region into a world-class destination.

According to her, the region must transition from small, scattered interventions to bold, high-impact projects that create jobs, attract investors and increase visitor numbers.

She added that the GTA has already begun improving infrastructure at major tourist sites, including the construction of a Tourism Information Centre, expanded parking areas, modern washroom facilities and summer huts to enhance visitor experience.

Maame Efua Houadjeto stressed the importance of empowering the youth to participate actively in the tourism value chain. She explained that when young people establish travel agencies, craft shops, eateries, car rental services and digital platforms around tourist sites, they become custodians of their own heritage. This community ownership, she noted, ensures the preservation of natural landscapes and the cleanliness of beaches as locals begin to see tourism as a source of livelihood.

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Touching on the sector’s digital future, the GTA boss said tourism can no longer thrive without strong online visibility. “If it is not online, it simply does not exist,” she said, urging tech-savvy youth in the region to build digital platforms that tell Volta’s story to the world.

She announced the rollout of the Ghana Tourism Information System (GTIS) next year, which will introduce seven major digital platforms, including a national tourism verification website, an online licensing and renewal portal, a customer management system, a cashless booking platform called Experience Ghana, a virtual touring app named Virtual Ghana, and Visit Ghana, the official storytelling platform for tourism promotion. She said these initiatives will modernise Ghana’s tourism operations and make regional attractions more accessible to the global market.

Calling for stronger public-private partnerships, Maame Efua Houadjeto emphasised that tourism flourishes when government, traditional leaders, private investors and local communities collaborate.

She disclosed that the GTA is already in advanced discussions with investors on major projects, but insisted that community participation is key to sustainability, noting that tourism becomes truly transformative when locals serve as both service providers and beneficiaries.