Coronavirus: Hospitality industry to lose US$171 million - Minister

Minister of Tourism, Barbara Oteng Gyasi, says an impact assessment of the Coronavirus outbreak on the country by the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) has revealed the hospitality industry is likely to lose US$130 million in the formal sector.

The informal sector of the hospitality industry, she added, is likely to also lose US$41 million. This makes a total loss of US$171 million for both sectors.

Due to the low patronage of services in the hospitality industry in the wake of the Coronavirus outbreak; some hotels, restaurants and car rental services, have begun laying off some staff, particularly, contract staff.

Speaking at a stakeholder’s engagement yesterday, the minister said her outfit would engage government on a stimulus support package to cushion the tourism industry in the wake of the Coronavirus.

She added that government recognized the immense contribution of the hospitality sector to the economy and would put in place measures to ensure that the sector does not suffer as a result of the pandemic.

Presently, Ghana's Coronavirus cases have jumped from 68 to 132 as at today, March 26.

The death toll, however, remains 3, the Ghana Health Service (GHS) has confirmed.

According to the GHS: “As at the morning of 26 March 2020, a total of fifty-four (54) cases including three (3) deaths have been confirmed from the regular surveillance systems. All three (3) cases that unfortunately succumbed to the disease were aged and had underlying chronic medical conditions.”