TOURISM SECTOR TO RECEIVE GHC55 MILLION TO BOOST INDUSTRY

Government has pumped a hooping amount of GHc55million into the tourism sector.

The gesture the government said is part of the government’s efforts to stabilize and develop the tourism industry.

Digging deep to uproot the fact of the development and it's merit to the industry, the Executive Secretary of Ghana Tourism Federation (GHATOF), Mr. Emmanuel Frimpong said the money if receive would be used to address key constraints such as sector operators’ skills revitalization, low quality of tourism assets, targeted transformation of Ghana’s tourist beaches, a comprehensive marketing brand and promotion strategy and reducing other high costs of doing business in the sector.

GHATOF Secretary made this known on Silver FM'S Omanbapa Morning Show today.

He told Nana Ampratwum, host of the program that, COVID-19 induced disruptions in Ghana’s tourism and hospitality industry saw domestic arrivals in 2020 reduced to 240,000 from some 600,000 arrivals in 2019.

International arrivals also fell by 70 percent to 355,108 in 2020, from one 1.13 million in 2019.

“The entire value chain, ranging from airlines, car rentals, hotels, restaurants, events and conference organisers, attractions, tour operators, travel agencies, craft vendors, to online travel entities is reeling from the collapsing consumer demand due to restrictions imposed to curb the spread of the disease,” Mr. Frimpong said.

He disclosed that a recent survey by the Federation revealed that several informal small businesses have shut down, whilst restaurants are experiencing an average drop in patronage of 60 percent.

Average hotel occupancy has also dropped significantly.

To Mr. GHATOF, the money will be used to rebrand the industry.

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FILASCO DEGENERAL-SILVERFM