Twenty-five tourism enterprises in the Eastern Region are to be closed down for flouting the Tourism Regulation, Act 817, 2011.
Four of such facilities were closed down on Tuesday, October 10 during the first leg of the enforcement exercise by the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA).
The enforcement exercise by the GTA is to whip owners who have flouted the tourism act to do due diligence.
Several of them are operating facilities illegally while others have failed to submit their mandatory documents. Many recalcitrant ones still, continue to fall short of licencing standards over the years, a clear disregard, even though they have been given notices and cautioned by the regulator, GTA, for failure to pay outstanding one percent Tourism Development Levy.
Patrons of affected guest houses and hotels were ejected and premises locked for their safety. They became stranded.
Owners of the various facilities were absent, leaving ignorant caretakers to hold the fort.
“I have no idea we need a licence from GTA, my boss isn’t around,” one said.
Another said: “Our parent company is in Accra, they pay licence, we are a subsidiary.”
The Standards and Quality Assurance Principal officer of the Ghana Tourism Authority, Maxwell Odame, says the laws would be enforced to the letter.
“The Ghana Tourism Act is mandated in the ACT 817, 2011 to enforce the laws. It’s unfortunate many of them continue to flout the law. We have cautioned them severally, hotels, guest houses, travel and tour operators, chop bars, pubs etc. We will duly enforce the law without fear or favour.”
He further explains that failure by the tourism enterprises to comply with the act affects revenue generation to government and has adverse public health concern.
“The implications are dire, projected revenues is not realised. Patrons of enterprises risk having health infections.”
Affected owners are expected to report to the GTA’s regional office to go through official mandatory processes.
Tourism is currently the country’s third Gross Domestic Product (GDP) contributor.
By Yvonne Neequaye|3news.com|Ghana