The Ghana Tourism Federation (GHATOF) has called on government to consider upgrading the nation’s tourism facilities to attract more international and local visitors when the COVID-19 pandemic is defeated.
According to GHATOF, over the years the country’s tourism infrastructure has not seen any significant facelift – which to a large extent downplays attempts made at attracting visitors to tourism sites across country.
Executive Secretary of GHATOF, Emmanuel Frimpong, who made this known stated that: “Due to our lack of maintenance culture, most of these infrastructure are in a deplorable condition. Many interesting tourism and attraction sites are equally in appalling condition, making them lose their ability to attract guests.
“We believe this will help to attract more tourists into Ghana and also empower the private sector to champion certain aspects of tourism development. We are still dependent on government.”
Mr. Frimpong continued that most of the roads leading to the various tourist-destinations are in horrible state, which makes internal travel very difficult and causes revenue loss to the sector.
He however commended the BUSAC Fund as well as DANIDA and USAID for assisting GHATOF I,n its advocacy drive.
“It is the hope of GHATOF and its partners,m particularly BUSAC Fund, that the attention of government will be drawn to this all-important sector to create more jobs and reduce poverty.”
The Federation has over the last few months embarked on an extensive advocacy programme on several media platforms to discuss the state of tourism infrastructure in the country.
The Ghana Tourism Federation (GHATOF) is the umbrella-body of various private tourist-trade associations, such as the Ghana Hotels Association, Tour Operators Association, Ghana Chefs Association, Tourism Society of Ghana, Tour Guide Association of Ghana, and many others mandated to advocate development and growth of the industry – as well as identify various opportunities and challenges hindering development of the industry.
