Tourism Awards Launched

Former preparations to honour various organisations for their outstanding contribution to Ghana’s tourism industry started at the weekend, with the launch in Accra of the sixth National Tourism Awards.

The Awards scheme, organised by the Ghana Tourist Board (GTB), is scheduled to take place in separate regions between January and April 2004, with the National Awards fixed for May 2004.

The launch, chaired by the Member of Parliament for Kwabre constituency Nana Asante Frimpong, was attended by newsmen, officials from GTB, the Ghana Tourist Federation (GHATOF), the Ghana Tourism Development Company (GTDC) and other stake-holders in the tourism industry.

In an address to launch the awards, the Minister of Tourism Mr Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey said the quality of service and facilities in the tourism industry has improved considerably, since the inception of the awards scheme in 1996.

He re-stated his ministry’s vision to attract over one million tourists to the country in 2007, and said the Tourism Awards have the potential of urging tourism practitioners to contribute to the success of that vision.

Mr Obetsebi-Lamptey said tourism in Ghana faces many challenges, including the perception of being an expensive destination, and said the country could be made the preferred destination in Africa, if ”strategies and practises” are evolved to generate a competitive advantage.

He pledged his ministry’s support for efforts by GTB to ensure high standards by enforcing regulations on the operation of tourism plants in the country, and suggested to the Events Planning Committees to consider giving awards for innovations which contribute to high standards in tourism.

The Acting Executive Director of GTB, Mr Martin Mireku, gave the assurance that the selection of the award winners would be fair, adding that the Regional Awards will be held at a sitting cocktail, while the National Awards takes the form of a dinner dance.

The 26 competitive areas for the National Tourism Awards programme include the 4-5, 3, 2, and 1 star Hotels of the Year; Tourism Marketing Company of the Year; Outstanding Tourism Investment Hotel; Night Club of the Year; Travel and Tours Agency of the Year; Budget Hotel of the Year; and the Tour Guide of the Year award.

Others are: Guest House of the Year; Host of the Year; Newcomer of the Year; Housekeeper of the Year; Restaurant of the Year (Ghanaian Dishes); Visitor Attraction of the Year; Traditional Caterer (Chop Bar) of the Year; Fast Food Joint of the Year; Oriental Restaurant of the Year; Drinking Bar of the Year; the Cleanest Town of the Year; and the Airline of the Year.

There are 15 other honorary awards such as the Tourism Personality of the Year award and the Tourism Oriented Media Organisation. The Ghana Dance Ensemble entertained guests at the launch with music and dance from Northern Ghana.