The Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) has begun stakeholder consultations on proposed regulations for event centres and the Ghana Tourism Information System (GTIS).
The initiatives are aimed at strengthening regulation, improving service delivery and advancing the digital transformation of Ghana’s tourism industry.
Speaking at the stakeholder engagement, Mrs Maame Efua Houadjeto, Chief Executive Officer of the GTA, said the measures would enhance professionalism, improve customer confidence, strengthen quality assurance and create a level playing field for tourism businesses.
She said the GTIS would provide the Authority with a credible national database of tourism enterprises to improve regulatory compliance, support evidence-based policymaking and generate reliable data to attract investment into the sector.
Mrs Houadjeto said the initiatives aligned with the Government’s vision of positioning tourism as a key driver of economic development and complemented the 24-hour economy policy.
“A well-regulated tourism industry, supported by a robust digital information system, provides the foundation for attracting investment, extending visitor experiences, increasing business operating hours, creating sustainable jobs for the youth and generating greater foreign exchange earnings,” she said.
Mrs Houadjeto described the stakeholder engagement as an opportunity for industry players to contribute to policies that would strengthen Ghana’s tourism industry and support national development.
She reaffirmed the Authority’s commitment to working with the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, industry players and development partners to position Ghana as a preferred tourism destination in Africa.
Mr Ekow Sampson, Deputy Chief Executive Officer in charge of Operations at the GTA, said the rapid expansion of event centres, conference facilities and related businesses had made it necessary to establish a modern regulatory framework for the sector.
He said the proposed regulations would promote professionalism, safety, quality service and consumer confidence while improving compliance and enhancing the competitiveness of Ghana’s tourism and events industry.
Mr Sampson acknowledged the technical support provided by the Office of the Attorney-General and Ministry of Justice in drafting the regulations and commended members of the drafting committee for their contributions.
He said the stakeholder engagement would enable industry players to review the draft regulations, identify gaps, share practical experiences and make recommendations before the regulations were finalised.
“The contributions of stakeholders will help ensure that the regulations are practical, balanced, business-friendly and responsive to the needs of the industry,” he said.
Mr Sampson said the GTIS would simplify the registration and licensing of tourism enterprises through online applications and renewals, improve compliance monitoring, reduce processing time and enhance transparency in service delivery.
He called for sustained collaboration among stakeholders to ensure the successful implementation of both the proposed regulations and the GTIS.
“The success of these initiatives depends on our collective efforts to build a stronger, more competitive and digitally driven tourism industry,” he said.
