Ghana gets non-IATA travel and tours association

An Association outside of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has been formed for travel and tour operators in Ghana with the view of bringing together all the players in the industry to present a common platform that will serve as a catalyst to voice their concerns.

The Association will mainly focus on promoting tourism in the country while also ensuring that it works in the interest of industry players, especially its members.

Speaking in an interview with the M&TD, Vice President of the newly formed Association, Mr. Aaron Amenyah said the Association would foster good relations between the non-IATA travel and tour operators, IATA travel and tour operator as well as all airlines for the purposes of creating the needed jobs for Ghanaians and for the national interest.

According to him, non-IATA travel and tour companies had been relegated to the background and neglected by almost all the foreign airlines operating in the country, stressing that the foreign airlines have stopped paying commissions to the non-IATA agencies, culminating in the collapse of the businesses of most of the travel agents.

As part of the mandate of the new Association, Mr. Amenyah intimated that the Association will negotiate for consolidated fares on all airlines operating in Ghana so that the smaller agencies can sustain and maintain their businesses.

He also stressed the need for all who have the interest of the country at Heart to work assiduously to salvage the nation’s economy.