Practitioners of tourism industry urged to charge fair rates

Accra, Feb. 5, GNA - The Ghana Tourism Society (GTS) has appealed to stakeholders in the tourism industry, especially private companies that have enjoyed tax rebates and exemptions to ensure that their prices and rates were commensurate to their services.

The Society said all those who had enjoyed tax exemptions and duty-free incentives from the Ghana Investments Promotions Council (GIPC) should ensure that they kept their prices low and competitive to encourage more tourists into the country.

Mr Ernest W. Owusu, President of the Ghana Tourism Society, in a release copied to the GNA Sports, said the gesture would go a long way in boosting the nation's tourism sector especially following the presence of a large number of visitors and football fans for the Ghana 2008 soccer tournament.

He reminded all private entrepreneurs, corporate bodies and service providers, including hotels and car rental companies, tour operators and entertainment centres in the hospitality industry that the exemptions was to ensure that Ghana became competitive and affordable leisure holiday destination.

"With the Ghanaian friendly traditional hospitality accorded to august visitors, a lot of investment and savings will be gained by the stakeholders so as to help to boost our tourism promotion and development."

Mr Owusu said that members of the tourism industry could ensure 'return packages' for the visitors depending on how they treated the soccer fans as that would encourage them to come back with their families after the tournament to enjoy the serene and peaceful atmosphere in the country and to visit many tourists sites. He advised all stakeholders to ensure that they gave the visitors the best of rates so that they might return to Ghana after the tournament. The Government has through its GIP Centre-Promotion of Tourism Instrument - L.I. 1817 / 2006 - given approval for tax exemptions and duty-free incentives to all stakeholders in the tourism industry.