Hoteliers Call On Tourism Minister

Hon Oboshie Sai Cofie (middle) Posses with the Hoteliers

Hon Oboshie Sai Cofie, the new Minister for Tourism and Diasporan Relations yesterday assured hoteliers that she will work closely with them to solve some of the problems currently confronting the industry in Ghana.

The minister said in order to attract more tourists into the country, the industry needed to lift up its standards to meet international levels.

Hon Oboshie Sai Cofie said, 'I am committed to seeing to it that standards are raised to meet international levels, and I must say that we have to do this fast'. She added, 'A lot has to be done in the shortest possible time, and I am ready for this challenge'.

The Hon Minister made these remarks when she met with a group of hoteliers who called on her in her office with a view to discussing issues affecting the industry in Ghana; and to finding quick and long-lasting solutions to them.

New, innovative ways to boost business activities in the sector were also discussed.

The meeting attended by representatives of La Palm Royal Beach Hotel, Labadi Beach Hotel, Novotel Hotels, Golden Tulip Hotel, Alisa Hotels, Coco Beach Resort, and Fiesta Royal Hotel created a platform for the Minister to have first hand information directly from key industry players.

The Hoteliers congratulated Hon. Oboshie Sai Cofie on her appointment as the Minister of Tourism and Diasporan Relations, and expressed the hope that stronger ties will be established between the Ministry of Tourism and the hotel industry.

As part of discussions were concerns of poor sanitation along the beaches, criminality, the high incidence of cyber crimes and narcotics in hotels. Other concerns raised were utility-related problems, impersonation, low human resource standards, amongst others, in the industry. These problems were clearly identified as issues which were having a negative impact on tourism in Ghana, and which needed to be addressed as soon as practicable if the country is to attain world class recognition in the area of Tourism.

Hon Oboshie Sai Cofie acknowledged the concerns raised by the group and promised that the Ministry of Tourism and Diasporan Relations would do its best to find ways to resolve these problems, in collaboration with the respective agencies.