Stakeholders in the hospitality and tourism industries are positioning their operations to harness the opportunities of increased air passengers as the Ashanti region prepares to become the second hub of domestic and international air travel.

Already, the government has hinted of plans to establish an airport city which will be conducive to receive the over 3,000 visitors transiting to the region.

As the government looks at boosting the local economy, hotels in the city, as well as the Ghana Tourism Authority, are working extensively to adhere to international standards while improving on service delivery and aesthetics.

Ashanti Regional President of the Ghana Hotels Association, Surveyor George Arkoh Mensah says the regional leadership are whipping members in line to comply with the standards of their jobs.

“We’ve put it across that every hotel must abide by the standards. There are standards that need to be kept before you can be received internationally. Every hotel is improving their facility in terms of the beautification, getting qualified staff and all,” he said.

Deputy Director of Quality Assurance and Standards at the Ghana Tourism Authority, Abena Amo, says the authority is on course to make the city receptive to international visitors and tourists to boost revenue gains.

She explains the authority is planning to organize workshop to enhance the service delivery of both local transport and hospitality sectors.

“We want the private sector to come on board and help us. Because there are going to be so many people trooping in. We are thinking of training programs for the drivers, for taxi driver for instance, and also for those in the hospitality industry,” she said.

The 1% tourism levy

Meanwhile, leadership of the Ashanti regional branch of the Ghana Hotels Association is requesting the Ghana Tourism Authority and the government to direct the one-percent tourism levy to redeveloping tourist sites across the country.

The association notes the deplorable state of some tourist sites and poor road infrastructure adversely affect the attraction of visitors and investor confidence in the sector.

With the huge chunk of revenue mobilized through the levy, the association wants a good allotment to the renovation of some sites, especially in the Ashanti region.  

Mr. Arkoh Mensah, says the national leadership is pushing to have the revenues utilized for the redevelopment purposes.

“It’s only when we have a well-developed tourist site with good roads that we can attract tourists to be in the Ashanti region. The levy needs to be used to redevelop the sites,” he said.

Data from the Tourism Development Fund Secretariat of Ghana revealed in 2021 alone, 15.18 million cedis was generated from the levy, with 2022 seeing over 14.9 million cedis as of August that year.

The fund also set a target of about 19.3 million for 2023.

Collection of the levy started in 2012 following the passage of the Tourism Act (Act 817). The mobilized revenue was to support and revamp the sector in terms of both infrastructure development and administrative activities.

Deputy Director of Quality Assurance and Standards at the Ghana Tourism Authority, Abena Amo assures working collaboratively with the various stakeholders to ensure hotels and tourist sites enjoy the best of amenities.

“We’re currently focusing on marketing, ensuring that we organize fairs that portray the sector to the foreigners including the US, Nigeria and other countries. But we are working with the agencies to have the facilities look their best and roads reconstructed,” she assured.