Koforidua, June 28, GNA-Twenty-five facilities including hotels and guest houses in the Eastern Region have been earmarked for closure by the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) for non-compliance with regulations.
The exercise is the second phase of monitoring and enforcement to ensure tourism regulations compliance beginning June 27 to July 8, this year.
The exercise would cover areas such as Koforidua, Begoro, Asesewa, Nankese, Suhum, Nsawam, Adeiso, Somanya, Kpong and other adjoining areas as well as the Akuapem ridge.
Mr Frederick Adjei-Rudolph, Eastern Regional Director of GTA in a briefing said the facilities earmarked for closure were operating illegally in contravention of the tourism Act 817 and the other relevant instruments governing operations of tourism and hospitality facilities.
He said some hostels, apartments and lodges were all listed for closure for blatantly contravening the rules, adding that, “it’s our duty as the supervising authority to uphold the sanctity of the relevant provisions of the law to the letter”.
The Regional Director said the tourism and hotel industry was gradually bouncing back from the effects of COVID-19 and as a regulator, they must act to protect the survival of operators who were law-abiding and provide the required standard services within the confines of the regulations.
“Enforcing closure is not a pleasant exercise, we would rather want to avoid such situations, but recalcitrant operators have left us with no choice,” he said.
GNA