The Acting Executive Director of the Ghana Tourist Board, Mr. Martin Mireku, has stated that though tourism has a role to play in the celebration of Ghana’s 50th anniversary, there is the need to clarify some misconception on the role of the Ghana Tourist Board.
Interacting with a section of the media in Accra, Mr. Mireku noted that the role of the GTB as a public institution, involves advising on tourism policy, regulating the industry, marketing and promoting Ghana tourism products and controlling standards in the industry.
He said as a sector they have no special role to play except its statutory functions of ensuring that standards are strictly maintained so that the expected tourist traffic will feel comfortable during the period of the celebrations.
He said in view of the celebrations, the GTB in 2006 inspected and licensed close to 600 up market hotels.
Mr. Mireku noted that currently, there are 1,405 licensed hotels, 19,967 hotels rooms and 28,006 beds nationwide as at January 2007, adding that, of these the Labadi Beach Hotel which is the only 5-star hotel in Ghana has 104 rooms with a corresponding 104 beds.
There are four (4)-star hotels who together have 658 rooms and 664 beds with 29 three-star accommodation units nationwide collectively having 1,271 rooms and 2,160 beds respectively, while the 140 two star boast of 3,055 rooms and 4,157 beds in that order.
The acting Executive Director said as part of efforts to improve and maintain standards, the GTB put in place a comprehensive crash programme for the front office operations, housekeeping skills, food and beverage services and kitchen skills in the hospitality establishment in eight regions.
He further said GTB, in an effort to develop products in the sector, has built receptive facilities for 21 attractions with 15 completed while the others are at various stages of construction.
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