Tour Operators urged to develop domestic tourism

Accra, Jan. 13, GNA - Lack of adequate training and continuous reliance on the sale of air tickets as the major aspect of tour business has affected the promotion and development of domestic tourism in Ghana.

"Virtually all tour operators in Ghana are involved in the sale of air tickets because of the foreign currency involved", Mr Kwaku Adumatta, Executive Director of Zane Investments a Marketing Tourism Consulting Firm in Accra, said on Tuesday.

He said there were more aspects to the tour business and called on the operators to explore other areas like encouraging tourists to tour the seacoast and tourists attractions on the land to develop the industry.

Mr Adumatta was speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) before addressing the opening session of a 15-week Career Development Programme on Travel Agency in Accra.

The programme is to provide participants with professional knowledge and skills in the industry to make them self-employed. The participants were travel agents, tour operators, car rental operators and tourism related commercial operators.

They would be taken through the understanding of travel reservations, booking conditions, making car rental reservations, handling cash, cheques, complaints, finance, planning and operational skills.

He said "there is the need for proper and effective integration among tour operators in the country to promote and develop the industry holistically for the benefit of society and not just to focus on one aspect".

Mr Adumatta said inland travelling whether for leisure or business contributed immensely to the country's development though in most cases transaction were done in the local currency, which to most operators was not an incentive.

"The role of the tour consultant in facilitating people's businesses and programmes cannot be underestimated in the over all achievements of success.

"We as tour consultants in the industry need to realize this and be well abreast with the risks in the job to be able to effectively and efficiently play our role for the benefit of our country," he said.