The South African High Commissioner to Ghana, Lulu Xingwana, has called for the development of Eco-tourism partnerships between African countries and sub-regions to take advantage of opportunities in eco-tourism.
She said eco-tourism provided an excellent source of foreign exchange that could be used by governments to finance economic growth and development.
Given the realities of rural poverty and under-development in the continent, she said eco-tourism activities could contribute to the upliftment of rural communities where most of the poorest people in the continent lived in highly valued natural areas.
“Our rural communities, especially women and the youth, must be supported and encouraged to drive this initiative as eco-tourism presents one of the only viable opportunities to generate a livelihood for the poor and, significantly, in a less destructive and more productive manner,” she said at the launch of the 2015 Africa Eco-beach Tourism here on Thursday.
The Eco-beach Tourism Africa is an ecological, beach, cultural and fashion event geared at fostering regional integration through tourism, as part of activities to commemorate the 40th anniversary of West African regional bloc, ECOWAS.
This year’s edition to be hosted by Ghana later in the year will involve five countries – Ghana, Togo, Benin, Ivory Coast and Nigeria.
More than 100 young women will compete for the 10 available slots to represent the five participating countries for the pageant whose winner will be hosted by the South African Airways for a tour of that country.
The Project Director of Style Africa, organizers of the event, Kenneth Kumahlor, appealed for support for the initiative. Enditem
Source: Xinhua
