Alhaji Mustapha Ali Idris, Northern Regional Minister has extolled the phenomenal growth of the tourist industry in the Northern Region and urged investors to help develop the sector. He said for instance, the Northern Region had seen an impressive increase in its tourist accommodation facilities, which were mere 13 units in 1996 to 75 units as at December last year. Alhaji Idris was addressing an awards ceremony for the Northern, Upper East and Upper West Regions as part of activities marking the 8th National Tourism Awards in Tamale. He said formal catering facilities had also increased in the metropolis with the city now having about 30 restaurants of various categories and sizes. Alhaji Idris commended the SNV, a Dutch Development Organisation for collaborating with the Ghana Tourist Board (GTB) to assist districts in the western corridor of the region namely, Sawla/Tuna/Kalba and West and Central Gonja to use their tourism resources to create wealth. He said the collaborative effort had developed a product dubbed: "the Gonjaland experience", which seeks to market the unique physical, cultural and social milieu of the area to potential local and foreign tourist. He commended the proactive role of the GTB was taking to develop tourism in the region and urged district assemblies and other stakeholders to fully cooperate with the Board and offer it all necessary assistance. Alhaji Idris said that the tourism sub-sector in the country recorded about 1.5 US dollars in the year 2007 and noted that this was made possible by a vibrant and innovative private sector that was ready to strike out and expand. Alhaji Idris said the government’s vigorous contribution to the development of the tourism stemmed from the fact that it was the best renewable commodity the country could rely on for its long-term development. He noted that tourism could generate employment, foreign exchange and wealth creation but could only do so in an environment of peace and stability and therefore urged the people of the three northern regions to give peace a chance. Mr. Edwin Owusu-Mensah, Deputy Executive Director of the GTB said Ghana's hosting of the CAN 2008 had been extremely beneficial to the country's tourist industry particularly the Northern Region. He said the event had led to the springing up of hotels, restaurants, geust houses and many tourism facilities, which had made Tamale the fastest growing Metropolis in Ghana. He said at a recent World Tourism Organisation (WTO) meeting on tourism and handicrafts participants were of the view that handicrafts production was one of the surest ways of alleviating poverty and improving the rural economy. Mr. Owusu-Mensah therefore appealed to the government and NGOs to assist in developing the capacity of artisans at Tamale and Daboya smock production centres as well as the Bolgatanga basket, straw hats and other handicraft producers. For the awards, the prize of first star hotel of the year went to Sira Hotel of Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region, second star hotel award was Mariam Hotel of Tamale in the Northern Region. The best landscape or ambience hotel went to Upland Hotel at Wa in the Upper West Region and the tourism support organisation award was given to SNV Nertherlands. The cleanest city of the year award went to Tamale. Winners of the awards were presented with plaques and prizes of various categories. Source: GNA