The Ghana Tourism Federation (GHATOF) has struck a partnership deal with Kenya’s Tourist Board (KTB), to help grow and strengthen the country’s tourism industry.
Under this, the East Africans would be providing training to the Ghanaian operators, to build their capacity in the areas of tourism marketing, packaging, safety and security, as well as product development.
Nana David Anim, President of GHATOF, said a delegation had already visited Kenya to see how things were done there.
Those who embarked on the trip were sponsored by the Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts Ministry, and represented every interest group within the Federation.
Kenya’s tourism industry is reputed to be among the most vibrant in the world, generating huge foreign exchange in support of that country’s economy.
Nana Anim said at a meeting of GHATOF in Kumasi that tourism was radically taking a new shape, with many now focusing on creative arts and culture to grow the sector.
It was, therefore, important that tourist facility operators and other stakeholders developed skills in those areas to sustain the industry.
He told them to be receptive to new ideas, embrace training programmes and adopt best practices.
Mr. Ekow Sampson, Ashanti Regional Manager of the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), urged members to regularly renew their licenses to enable them to operate legally.
He warned of firm action against those operating outside the law to bring sanity.
Source: GNA