Ghana unveils tourism development plan

The Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, has unveiled a 15- year national tourism development plan.

This would include a five-year minimum term plan for strategic action to transform the tourism industry to be one of the leading sectors of the economy.

Mrs Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, made this known, on Wednesday, when Sunlodge Hotel organised its 40th anniversary.

She said a tourism development fund has also been established with the operationalisation of the tourism levy collection since 2012.

Mrs Ofosu-Adjare said the fund would be judiciously applied for the marketing and promotion of domestic and international tourism to generate the much needed foreign exchange, to create jobs and generate incomes.

She urged operators of tourism plants in the country to collect the levy and make due payment on schedule to help grow the tourism development fund.

Mrs Ofosu-Adjare congratulated the board, management and staff of the hotel for the noble achievement and immense contribution to the development and growth of the Tourism and hospitality industry in Ghana.

She said the hotel from a humble beginning of eight rooms, has grown to 50 rooms, seven conference facilities, a restaurant and swimming pool, which she noted is no mean achievement and could only be made through vision, foresight, passion, commitment, dedication, staff motivation and recognition and excellent relationship with clients.

She said the Sunlodge hotel at the time of its establishment was classified as one of the upper range hotel, with some hotels which no longer exist, indicating that the facility has been resilient and steadfast.

She advised the board and management of the hotel to sustain staff motivation and recognition, and reward deserving clients to strengthen business relations.

Mrs Jacquie Obeng-Ansong, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Sunlodge said the hotel established, in August 1974 has 32 double rooms, 16 single rooms and three suits of which two of them are disability friendly.

She noted that personal touch of staff, low labour turnover, personalisation of service delivery and consistency are some of the key performance indicators that have brought the hotel to its current state.

She gave the assurance that over the next several years, the hotel would re-commit itself to its clients with the best and also strive to be consistent with its delivery of service to forever make it an experience worth repeating.