Tourism Federation appeals to government for incentive package

The Ghana Tourism Federation (GHATOF) has appealed to Government to grant members incentives to compensate for the negative impact of the Coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) on the industry.

The Federation is seeking for subsidy in water and electricity tariffs, suspension of taxes such as VAT, Tourism Levy, National Health Insurance Levy, Property rate and Business Operating Permit.

A statement signed by Mrs Bella A Ahu, President of the Federation and copied the Ghana News Agency, expressed concern on the drastic effect of COVID-19, which is crippling various institutions across the globe more especially, the tourism and hospitality industry.

It said GHATOF in the past two weeks engaged its trade associations across the country in all the 16 administrative regions of Ghana, adding that the impact of the disease on businesses of the trade associations' members was huge and scary.

"The Federation is therefore appealing to the Government of Ghana and its implementing agency Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) for support," it said.

It also appealed to government to help with the supply of essential commodities such as washing detergents, sanitizers, dispensers, nose masks, hand gloves, thermometer guns, Veronica buckets, hand washing soaps, tissue towels and cleaning materials at highly subsidized prices.

The Federation called on government for more stakeholder engagements during and after the crisis and urged its members to stay calm and to adhere to the directives of the World Health Organisation and Ghana Health Service.