The Ebola epidemic in West Africa is negatively
affecting the tourism industry due to the cancellation of conferences
and events that would have brought thousands of visitors into the
country, says Charles Osei-Bonsu, Executive Director of the Ghana
Tourism Authority (GTA).
A World Tourism Organisation (WTO) conference, “Branding for Africa and
Africa’s Image”, which had been scheduled to be come off in Accra from
September 9-11, was postponed, he told the B&FT in an interview.
Other important international events have also been put on hold, he
said, amid fears that large cross-border gatherings could facilitate the
spread of Ebola, which has killed more than 4,000 people in the most
affected countries of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.
The postponement and cancellation of international events is having a
ripple effect on tourism revenues and the hotel business, Mr. Osei-Bonsu
added.
The overall impact of Ebola on the industry will be better appreciated
when full-year statistics on tourism trends have been collated. For now,
the GTA’s goal of attracting a record one million tourists into the
country this year and generating more than US$2billion in earnings looks
threatened as Ebola rages on.
Speaking during a media interaction last week ahead of the upcoming
2014 National Tourism Awards in Accra, the GTA boss said the Authority’s
current focus is to improve the standards and quality of service in
tourism facilities.
To expand its oversight and decentralise its activities, the GTA plans
to have five of its seven pilot district offices operational in
November. The pilot offices will be zoned to cover wide areas.
Touching on the tourism levy that was introduced in October 2012, Mr.
Osei-Bonsu said many accommodation establishments and caterers have been
registered and certified to collect the levy and make payments to
designated banks.
Some GH¢7million has been generated from the levy as at the middle of
October this year, while over 2,600 facilities – representing about 96
percent of licenced tourism facilities – have so far been registered to
collect the levy.
An average of around GH¢350,000 is mobilised every month, the Fund
Manager, Abraham Tetteh, said, adding that he is hopeful collections
will double soon when the challenges associated with collection are
addressed.
The National Tourism Awards 2014, which was previously slated for
November 28, has been moved to December 11 at the Banquet Hall of the
State House due to the Arts and Culture festival being hosted by the
Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Ben Anane-Nsiah, Special Events
Manager, said.
The awards are to honour businesses and individuals in the tourism
industry, reward excellent performance to encourage competition, and
create a platform for interaction as a family so to enhance the positive
image of the country through the tourism sector, Mr. Anane-Nsiah said.
The awards criteria are based on factors such as good facilities, good
customer service, and companies with a good record of tax compliance.
Telefonika Ghana Limited is the headline sponsor, while companies such
as Turkish Airlines, Binatone, Universal Merchant Bank, Sunseekers,
Sunlodge Hotel, Papaye are providing support to make the award ceremony a
success.
Story:GhanaWeb
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