GTA To License All Tourist Sites

The Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) is to certify and license all tourist facilities in the country to ensure excellence in the industry.

Mr Akwasi Agyemang, Chief Executive Officer of the Authority, said the move would improve standards of facilities and enhance clients' experience.

He said this in a speech read on his behalf at the 2018 Volta Regional Tourism Awards, held under the theme: "Celebrating Our Heritage", at the Volta Serene Hotel in Ho.

The Chief Executive of the Authority said government's tourism fund supported by the World Bank, would be continuously invested in developing and improving quality of sites to meet international standards.

Mr Agyemang said visa acquisition was one area the Authority was working to improve upon and had engaged the Immigration Service on slashing visa on arrival costs.

He said the Tourism Ministry was committed to establishing two hotel training institutes to cater for its service enhancement training component in an effort to realise the full economic potentials of a sector whose value chain could end the nation's employment dilemma.

Mr Agyemang called for support from all stakeholders and asked players in the sector to strive for excellence and promote Ghanaian culture through local products and cuisine.

Mr Alexander Kwame Nketia, Volta Regional Manager, GTA described the region as a multicultural society with natural setting and scenery that tourists were attracted to, and underscored the need to make good use of the potential.

He said the GTA was considering setting up a destination management team to collaborate with other stakeholders in developing the sector, and called on operators in the region to comply with regulatory requirements and contribute their levies promptly.

A total of 30 awards, including honourary ones, were presented to individuals, companies, and facilities for their contributions to the sector with: