Stakeholders have been called upon to invest more in the hospitality industry to help improve tourism attractions to the Upper East Region and the country as a whole, taking cognizance of ecotourism.
The tourism sector contributes significantly to gross domestic product GDP and its ability to create jobs.
This came to light at the 2019, 14th Edition of the Regional Tourism Awards Nights, organized by the Ghana Tourist Authority GTA under the theme “Celebrating Our Heritage”.
In a speech read by the Municipal Chief Executive Joseph Amiyuure Aturah on behalf of the Regional Minister, indicated that, the tourism industry needs to focus on packaging
tourism experiences that will cater for the needs of Ghanaians, to encourage them travel within Ghana.
The Minister encourages business owners and all stakeholders in the sector to partner with communities to drive domestic tourism.
She added that, service excellence and the affordability of travel and accommodation packages will help Ghanaians to travel and explore the country’s culture.
The stated further that as a country there is the need to market our emerging economy aimed at being par with the developed countries through tourism citing Dubai as an example.
Ms. Abayage stressed that, destination competitiveness is linked to the ability of a destination to deliver on experience of the highest quality.
Tourism value needs to be leverage to make Ghana competitive in order to attain the vision 2020 of becoming one of the top 20 global tourist destinations.
The Regional Minister underscored the significant contributions of the tourism industry to the socioeconomic growth and development of the country through the preservation of the cultural heritage, creation of employment and generation of foreign exchange to increase government’s revenue mobilization drive and said more needed to be done.
This, the Minister stated, would not only provide economic benefits to the country but it would further preserve and protect the varied Ghanaian identity being handed over by the forefathers.
The Regional Minister disclosed that, the region was endowed with lots of tourist sites such as the Paga and Chief Crocodile Ponds, the Pikworo Slave Camp, the Tongo Hills and Tengzu Shrine, the Sirigu Women Organization in Pottery and Art (SWOPA), the Bolgatanga Craft village among other hospitality facilities, however, they were faced with infrastructure and logistical challenges and investment was therefore needed to improve service delivery in these facilities.
Madam Abayage said, government will continue to play its part in promoting tourism and working closely with the Ghana Tourism Authority, the business community and stakeholders to support the initiatives put in place to promote tourism and address the hindrances to tourism growth.
For this reason, the Minister added, the GTA has earmarked the Paga Zenga Crocodile Pond for development to attract more tourists to the region and a Memorandum of Understanding was signed in 2018 between the GTA, the Paga Traditional Authority and the Kassena-Nankana West District Assembly.
The Head of Human Resource at the head office of the GTA, Kwesi Anim-Larbi, explained that this year has been declared as year of return which marks the 400th year since the first slave from West Africa entered the European countries and as such the country is expecting about 500,000 visitors this year and therefore called on hospitality owners should develop their facilities to attract these visitors.
He said when the visitors had good experiences and memories they would be motivated to frequently visit the country to enjoy these facilities.
In all 16 competitive and three honorary awards were given to deserving winners with the Upper East Regional Coordination Council honoured for being the dedicated support to tourism programmes category, DCOP Patrick Akolgo of Blue Sky in Bolgatanga, the Tourism investor of the year and Hotel Amazin in Zenella, the New Comer of the year under the Honorary category.
Under the competitive awards category, Joshua Asaah of A1 Radio was adjudged the tourism writer of the year while Pio TV took the tourism oriented media award.
Some are’ V3 Travel and tours, Tour Operator of the year, Philmeek Catering Services, consistent payment of tourism levy of year for restaurants, SHCSC Guest house, consistent payment of tourism levy of year for accommodation, SWOPA, Visitpr attraction of the year, Salifu Awewozem, site guide of the year, Everest Planet, drinking bar of the year, Mcclean View, traditional caterer of thee year, and Speedlink fast and restaurant, Fast food establishment of the year.
The rest are; Blue Sky Hotel, the Hotel of the year for 2-Star, JOCOM Golden Hotel, Hotel of the year for 1-Star, Premier Lodge, Hotel of the year for budget, Eborics Lodge, Guest House of the year, Philmeek Catering Services, Restaurant of the year for Grade-2, and Swapy Restaurant, Restaurant of the year for Grade-3.
Story filed by Emmanuel Akayeti
