By Hafsa Obeng
Accra, July 9, GNA – The Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) says effective regulations for multi-purpose establishments and event service providers will depend on meaningful stakeholder participation to ensure they are practical, business-friendly and responsive to industry needs.
Mr Ekow Sampson, Deputy Chief Executive Officer in charge of Operations at the GTA, said the proposed regulations would define the responsibilities of event planners and managers, set minimum standards for facilities, establish grading criteria and outline operational requirements for the sector.
Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of a stakeholder engagement in Accra, Mr Sampson said the Authority, in collaboration with the Office of the Attorney-General and Ministry of Justice, had drafted the regulations and was seeking industry input before submitting them for further consideration.
“The users of these facilities should have the opportunity to contribute to the regulations that will govern their operations. Their input will enrich the document and ensure it responds to the needs of the industry,” he said.
Mr Sampson said the draft would be revised to incorporate stakeholders’ recommendations before being returned to the Attorney-General’s Office and subsequently laid before Parliament.
He noted that although stakeholders had raised concerns about issues including environmental sustainability, children’s events and data protection, some of those matters fell within the mandates of other regulatory institutions.
He cited the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as responsible for environmental matters and the Data Protection Commission for issues relating to data privacy.
“We will work closely with these institutions to ensure their mandates are appropriately reflected in the regulations without creating challenges for tourists or industry operators,” he said.
Mr Sampson said the regulations were intended to improve service quality, strengthen professionalism and ensure tourists enjoyed safe and memorable experiences at event venues across the country.
Mrs Ama Akoto, Deputy Director of the Standards and Quality Assurance Department of the GTA, described the stakeholder engagement as successful, saying it had brought together key industry players whose contributions would strengthen the final document.
She said discussions centred on mandatory minimum standards and specific operational requirements for the various categories of multi-purpose establishments and event service providers.
Mrs Akoto said the regulations were being developed in line with the Tourism Act, 2011 (Act 817), while also taking into account feedback from the general public, who were the ultimate users of the facilities.
She expressed confidence that the consultative process would produce a comprehensive regulatory framework to enhance standards and promote professionalism across the tourism and events industry.
Mr Mohammed Bashiru, Consultant for the Ghana Tourism Information System (GTIS), said the digital platform formed part of the Authority’s efforts to modernise tourism administration.
He said the system would enable operators to register their businesses online, pay licence fees and tourism levies electronically, and track the progress of their applications remotely.
The platform would serve hotels, restaurants, travel and tour operators and other tourism enterprises, eliminating the need for operators to visit banks or GTA offices to complete transactions.
Mr Bashiru said the GTIS would also allow operators to monitor inspections and levy audits online, making regulatory processes more efficient, transparent and user-friendly.
He said the platform was expected to improve convenience for tourism businesses while strengthening compliance and enhancing service delivery.
GNA
Edited by Agnes Boye-Doe
Reporter: Hafsa Obeng