The first national Tourism, Hospitality, career fair and exhibition has been launched in Accra.

The fair dubbed NaTHaFEst is an initiative of the School of Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management in collaboration with Ghana Tourism Authority.

The event on the theme: Reversing unemployment through careers in Tourism and Hospitality is to bring a comprehensive awareness of the opportunities the tourism industry has for the youth.

NaTHaFEst 2014 scheduled for June 18th and 19th 2014 also seek to address the role tourism in Ghana’s economy with emphasis on how the nation can use it to generate and expand sustainable employment for the youth.

In a speech read on her behave, the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Mrs. Elizabeth Ofosu-Agyare commended the organizers for the laudable initiative.

She said as a country with huge tourism potentials, government is committed to investing heavily in the tourism sector.

The Tourism Minister bemoaned the practice of the youth using the tourism industry as a stepping stone to other careers.

Mrs. Elizabeth Ofosu-Agyare said such practice if not nipped in the bud, will affect Ghana’s tourism sector.

On his part, President of the School of Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management, Goyimwole Enukomeko Kpodo said the fair will be held annually to market the tourism sector.

He explained that this year’s event will combine career fair, exhibition and seminars on employment opportunities for potential job seekers.

Mr. Kpodo described a worrying how Africa has been bedeviled with myriads of problems due to “our inability to think and create which has rendered us notoriously poor”.

He was optimistic the resource persons at the fair will be able to come out with a roadmap that will help revamp Ghana’s tourism sector.

Mr. Kpodo appealed to government, the hospitality sector and corporate bodies to be part of the event to help resolve the unemployment issues in the country.