The Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), on Friday launched the 2014 and 10th edition of the National Tourism Awards slated for November 28, in Accra.

The awards which is to reward excellence and professionalism in the Ghanaian tourism environment, is also an effort to consolidate the country’s position as an emerging destination in Africa.

Mrs Elizabeth Ofosu Adjare, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts launching the awards said the event was instituted to reward deserving industry practitioners and other stakeholders, who have demonstrated excellence in their operations and also shown commitment towards the development and the growth of the Ghana tourism industry.

She said the awards have indeed become the flagship event in the tourism industry, providing a platform for healthy competition, networking, socialisation and interaction amongst tourism practitioners and with other key industry stakeholders.

Mrs Ofosu Adjare noted that the tourism awards has contributed significantly to the emphasis on service quality in the industry and this is being complimented by other measures designed to anchor good service culture as a hallmark of tourism in Ghana.

“It is in this connection that the Ministry is taking steps to restructure the Hotel Catering and Tourism Training Institute to train the essential man power required for the sector”, she added.

Mrs Ofosu Adjare noted that the regional tourism awards event which usually, traditionally precedes the national event would be re-introduced this year and will be held between September and October 31.

She said the awards event, sets the benchmark for quality product and service delivery and plays a key role in driving the industry towards achieving the set target.

Mr Ben Anane Nsiah, Manager, Special Events, GTA, said the awards is to reward excellent performance in the tourism sector, encourage competition among industry players, build relationship amongst the GTA and the industry captains and enhance the positive image of the GTA and practitioners in the sector.

He said the awards has been grouped into two categories, namely competitive and honorary awards and would take the form of a cocktail, banquet, music performance and presentation of awards.

Mr Anane Nsiah said the criteria for selection of winners would include conformity to lay-down classification standards, corporate social responsibility, fulfilment of environmental or sanitation standards, and fulfilment of statutory regulations.

Other criteria would include positive corporate image, work place safety standards, visibility including number of branches and adherence to quality customer service or quality control.