GTA to private investors: Take advantage of Ghana’s tourism sites
Ekow Sampson, the deputy chief executive officer, Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) has called on private investors to take advantage of the business potentials of the various tourist sites in the country.
Speaking at the national orientation and training workshop for the implementation of the new tourism sites regulations-LI 2393 in Sunyani for the Bono, Bono East and Ahafo regions, Sampson said the investment of the private sector will certainly increase revenue.
“Tourism itself is private sector-linked,” he said. “It’s purely private sector linked. The government provides the enabling environment. So, now that we have opened the tourism site attractions, we now need something unique.”
“Ghana has a lot of tourist attractions, so once we get the private sector to invest there certainly they will make a lot of money,” Sampson said.
Virtual opportunities
He also called on operators to also develop their site virtually to attract tourists and boost revenue generation.
“The world all over is being driven by technology and innovation, so it is important that you don’t stay [behind] because the technology is there. So, why don’t you make good use of the technology, so that you can even add to the revenue streams,” he said.
The director of the GTA in the Bono, Bono East and Ahafo regions, Joseph Appiagyei said about 70% of tourist attractions in these three regions are under developed. He said the new L.I will help hospitality operators adjust to the new way of doing things and also bring sanity into the tourism industry.
Participants were taken through the new L.I to equip them to operate legally. On 4 March 2019, the L.I. 2393 of the tourist regulation sites was passed. It gives the GTA the mandate to register, classify, license and regulate the activities of tourist sites.
