By Hafsa Obeng
Accra, May 24, GNA – The Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) has launched the Ghana Tourism Information System (GTIS), a digital platform designed to simplify licensing, improve regulatory compliance and strengthen data management within the tourism sector.
The platform is also to enable tourism operators to apply for licences, renew permits, manage records, file returns and pay levies digitally with greater convenience and transparency.
Mrs Efua Houadjeto, the Chief Executive Officer, GTA, said the initiative formed part of efforts to modernise tourism administration and support the government’s agenda to reset the economy through efficient public service delivery.
For many years, she noted that tourism operators across the country had faced difficulties with licensing processes, renewals and regulatory access, with some travelling long distances to process documentation.
“If we truly want to transform tourism into a major pillar of national development, then we must first fix the foundation, which begins with systems “ she said.
“We can begin with making regulation easier, compliance simpler, and participation more inclusive for every tourism operator across the country.”
The CEO explained that one of the key features of the GTIS was the Licensed Facility Verification System, which would allow the public to verify licensed tourism facilities before engaging their services.
She said the verification feature would help protect consumers, promote trust in the tourism sector and ensure visitors received value for money.
Mrs Houadjeto described tourism as a major economic driver, stressing that the sector contributed to employment creation, investment promotion, cultural preservation and national identity.
She said the vision of President John Dramani Mahama was to position tourism as one of the leading contributors to Ghana’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), adding that achieving that target required strong data systems and real-time industry information.
The GTA boss announced that the next phase of the system would introduce a Customer Service Register module to help operators securely capture customer and service data.
The data gathered would support evidence-based policy formulation, investment decisions and tourism sector interventions.
She, therefore, urged tourism operators to fully embrace the platform to help strengthen the industry and improve Ghana’s competitiveness on the global tourism market.
Mrs Houadjeto expressed appreciation to the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, the Board of the GTA, technical partners and staff of the Authority for supporting the development of the platform.
She particularly commended pidasmo.com, technical developers of the system, for helping transform the vision into reality.
“The future of tourism in Ghana is digital. The future of tourism in Ghana is connected. And the future of tourism in Ghana begins now,” she noted.
GNA
Edited by Agnes Boye-Doe
Reporter: Hafsa Obeng