B/A Tourist Board Cautions Media / Illegal Tourism Plants

Space FM, Sunyani, August 8- The Brong-Ahafo Regional Office of the Ghana Tourist Board-GTB, has cautioned media houses in the region to desist from advertising the services of some seventeen Tourism Plants in the Sunyani Municipality operating illegally.

The Acting Regional Manager of the GTB, Mr B.A.F.Tapena, who gave the caution in a letter copied to the media in Sunyani said those affected have not met the minimum requirements for licensing."Most of these Tourism Plants have not met the Board's minimum requirements for licensing and as such are operating illegally", he said.

The Regional Manager told Space FM that most of the affected Plants have not finished paying their processing fees, do not have the right calibre of staff and have not been certified by the Environmental Protection Agency-EPA , the Fire Service and the Town and Country Planning.

He lamented that most of these Tourism Plants finished constructing their premesis before applying with the Board adding that "some of them have abused the long rope and sooner than later the law would deal with them".

But managers of the affected plants told Space FM that the Board is rather to be blamed for the delay in the process of their certificates.They claim they have met all the requirements yet any time they report at the Board, they are told to go and report at a later date.

The affected Tourism Plants are Pasca Royal Lodge, Ellenda Guest House, Ave Maria Lodge,Serwaa Hotel and Nat Vision Hotel.

The rest are, Akosah Palace Hotel, Nayak Restaurant, Eve Restaurant,The Young Guest House, Hill Top Guest House, Mummy's Lodge, Solomon's Porch and New Age Travel and Tours. Others are, African Origin Travel and Tours, Tyco Restaurant and Nite Club, Standford Bridge Nite Club as well as Marriot Nite Club.

Mr Tapena said the Board would have no option than take legal action against both the illegal Plants and the media house if the advertisements are not stopped immediately.