31 Tourism facilities closed down in Eastern Region

More than 30 tourism facilities, including hotels and restaurants across the Eastern Region, have been closed down by the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) for operating illegally.

The facilities were closed down by the GTA during an inspection and enforcement exercises by its taskforce to ensure compliance with the GTA regulations as part of a nationwide exercise.

The operation took three days— from Tuesday, June 25, 2019 to Thursday, June 27, 2019.

The Eastern Regional Director of the GTA, Mr Frederick Adjei-Rudolph, in a statement after the exercise, said the GTA would continue to ensure that tourism facility owners complied with best practices for the delivery of standard services to their clients.

Three teams,made up of both the national and regional enforcement taskforces of the authority, aided by officers from the Regional Police Command, were deployed to different parts of the region to carry out the exercise.

Facilities

By the close of business last Thursday, the facilities closed down included Lambert Court Hostel and Ceewus Hostel, both at Brekusu; Madiba Hostel at Koforidua; Greater Grace Guest House at Kwabeng; Reggie Boat Hotel at Osabene; Elite Hotel; Supreme Hostel and Frontline Hostel, all in Koforidua.

Others are Cozy View Hotel and Soul Restaurant both at Kyebi; Star Gate Hotel at Kwahu Ntesu, Graceland Luxury Guest House at Akyem Oda and Omana Hotel at Asuom.

Payments

According to Mr Adjei-Rudolph, some operators such as Reggie Boat Hotel, Koforidua; Cozy View Hotel, Kyebi; Soul Restaurant, Kyebi; Richies of Glory Guest House, Kyekyewere; Supreme Hostel, Koforidua, and Mebendesly Lodge, Begoro, quickly visited the office of the authority in Koforidua immediately after their closure, paid the necessary stipulated fees and were currently going through the documentary process to regularise their operations.

He stated that the regional taskforce would sustain the enforcement exercise throughout the year to weed out illegally operating tourism and hospitality facilities in the region.

“Beyond the fact that operating a hospitality facility without a valid operational licence issued by the Ghana Tourism Authority is an act of illegality, it also borders on issues of compromising on standards of facilities, security and safety of patrons.

The Ghana Tourism Authority will, therefore, marshal its resources to ensure that all operators work in a very congenial atmosphere, while those that constantly flout the law will be made to face the full rigours of the law,” he said.

Collaboration

An effective collaboration of major tourism and hospitality stakeholders, according to him, was essential for the success of the tourism industry.

“We entreat all patrons of hospitality facilities to always look out for the Ghana Tourism Authority’s valid operational licence (validity is January 1 to December 31) which is supposed to be boldly displayed at the reception. Facilities without operational licences must not be patronised,” the statement added.

As a regulator of a service industry that is aimed at projecting the image of the country in a positive light, it is important to maintain and instill sanity in the industry by ensuring that operators comply with the rules, standards and laws that govern it while potential operators also meet all legal requirements to be able to practise.