He said Tourism could only thrive in a clean environment and encouraged stakeholders in the industry to help keep the environment clean to attract both local and international tourists.
Mr Yeledour who said this in an interview with the GNA in Takoradi , announced that the Authority had put in place a number of activities to mark this year’s heritage month.
He said the Western Region was blessed with a number tourist sites including, Nzulezu silt , Ankasa forest, Bisa Abrewa museum, forts and castles pristine beaches and other heritage sites which continued to attract tourists to the region despite infrastructure, logistical and sanitation challenges.
The Regional Director said the authority would continue to encourage hoteliers in the region to promote local cuisine , noting that some of the tourists preferred local dishes to continental dishes.
He was however quick to add that the hoteliers and restaurants should procure their food supplies from reliable sources to prevent food poisoning adding, “your facility can collapse within a twinkle of an eye if you record food poisoning in your facility.”
He explained that some tourists were not interested in flashy hotels, restaurants and tourists sites but rather in local settings and asked that managers of tourists sites should always keep their surroundings clean and decent, “tourists will not revisit your facility if it is not clean.”
Mr Yeledour expressed concern about the unsanitary conditions at some of beach fronts in the metropolis and asked the STMA to regularly empty the refuse containers at the beaches, hotels and other tourists sites .
He encouraged hotel owners to endeavour to keep their surroundings clean as well as empty their refuse containers regularly.
Heritage month takes place in the month of March which happens to be Ghana’s independence month. It is filled with tours, events and activities highlighting Ghana’s rich heritage. The period is also sometimes referred to as Ghana Month.
GNA
