GTA moves to raise standard in hospitality industry

The Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) has vowed to ensure that the operation of tourist facilities across the nation conformed to set standards.

Mr. Ekow Sampson, Ashanti regional Manager, warned there would be no room for mediocrity.

In line with this, the Authority is to start a nationwide exercise to screen managers of all the facilities to satisfy it that they have the requisite professional qualifications to be in the job.

Speaking at a day's workshop for restaurant operators and owners of newly-registered hotels in Kumasi, Mr. Sampson made reference to the Tourism Act 817, and said it mandates the GTA to carry out background checks on the managers to ascertain their qualifications before they are licensed to work.

The programme, organized by the GTA, was meant to assist the participants to have better understanding of the Tourism Act, the Tourism Development Fund and Levy.

Mr. Sampson disclosed that they had scaled up the education of those in the hospitality industry, to help to keep them abreast with their responsibilities under the Act and to improve the quality of service.

He expressed optimism that the tourism development fund would speed up the growth of the sector, streamline the industry and ensure sanity.

Mrs. Abena Fosu Boampong, a Principal Quality Assurance Officer of the GTA, advised operators of tourist facilities to register with the Authority, in order to secure license to operate.