Media briefing on Tourism Fund Development levy held


The Upper East Regional Director of the Ghana Tourist Board, Hakeem Ismael says the surest way to develop tourism in the Upper East region is for stakeholders to pay more attention to tourist sites in the area and deliberately direct resources toward their development and maintenance. 

He said though the region has many natural tourist attractions, lack of publicity and the organization of tour events to these natural sites are making them lose their popularity and relevance. 

He made the call at a press briefing organized by the regional branch of the Tourism Board on their activities and the tourism development fund. 

The move was to sensitize the general public the tourism development fund and the way forward. 

The Tourism Fund Manager, Abraham Tetteh, said the Fund, instituted by the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, charges one per cent levy on the cost payable by a patron of a tourism enterprise and is expected to add to the seed money that government is expected to provide for the Tourism Development Fund. 

Mr Abraham Tetteh spoke about their mission in the region. 

The Fund Manager added that this follows the passage of a new Tourism Act (Act 817) and its Legislative Regulations covering the tourism trade, accommodation and catering, as well as the structure of the tourism authority and tourism levy. 

He said the Tourism Development Fund is expected to provide the resources for the authority to market and promote the activities and services of players in the tourism industry in Ghana. 

Mr. Tetteh said it will also facilitate capacity building for players in the industry and also embark on market research and development of tourism infrastructure and tourism education and training. 

He said the tourism fund will help develop the sector and contribute to the country’s attainment of international standards. 

The object of the Fund is to provide funding for tourism and tourism-related projects and programs, to achieve the object of the Fund, moneys from the Fund shall be applied for relevant tourism activities as the Board may determine including in particular, marketing and promotion of tourism, capacity building, market research and development of tourism infrastructure, development and promotion of other entrepreneurial activities, tourism export trade-oriented activities of institutions and tourism education and training.


GBC