Achieving tourists target: Reduce tariffs, taxes -Hotels association to government

The Ghana Hotels Association (GHA) has entreated the government to address the needs of hoteliers to make it easier for the country to achieve its 1.2 million tourists target.

The Greater Accra Regional Chairman of the association, Benjamin Afunya, who articulated the views of the GHA, said even though hotels were ready to receive visitors, the government should reduce the high tariffs, taxes and levies to enable them to operate freely. 

“We need government to reduce tariffs. As I’m talking to you, big and small hotels alike are owing so much. Fees that we used to pay at less than GH¢3,000 weekly or monthly, we are now paying twice that value. 

“Today, we are just laying workers off. I personally have had to lay about five off,” he revealed.

Mr Afunya made the appeal at a dinner and awards ceremony held in Accra yesterday. 

Organised by the Greater Accra Regional Chapter of the association, 

some individuals who had shown exemplary and distinguished leadership and attained exceptional heights in the hospitality industry over the years were honoured. 

Issues

The country’s law provides tax free regime for certain items imported for use in the hotel and hospitality industry such as beddings, towels, cutlery, plates and utencils.

The hoteliers, however, maintained that although the policy existed on paper, the procedure to access the benefit was very cumbersome, thereby making it virtually non-existent.

Untapped potential

The President of the association, Dr Edward Ackah-Nyamike, said a huge potential of the country’s tourism and hospitality sector remained untapped, and therefore, urged the government to develop its development model on that. 

“I’ve often said we have to model our development on tourism. That alone, and we will rely less on gold and these things that are creating challenges for us. Tourism is the way into the future and I’m happy to be part of this industry,” he said. 

More rooms needed

At the third National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the GHA last Thursday, the Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Dr Ibrahim Mohammed Awal, said that players in the hospitality industry must collaborate with the government to increase hotel rooms to 100, 000 in the next decade.

He said the country would soon be awashed with lots of visitors and that called for the availability of more hotels to avoid difficulties.

When US President Bill Clinton visited the country in 1998, some quarters alleged that he could not sleep overnight because there were no rooms enough to accommodate him, his delegation and security details.

The General Manager of Coconut Grove Regency Hotel, Raphael Ayitey, stressed that the introduction of initiatives such as the Year of Return, Beyond the Return, December in GH, Afrochella, Afro Nations, as well as the visit of high profile personalities to the country’s forts and castles were very impressive and helpful.

However, he said, the industry needed operational support to enable prices to come down, offer more value and create more jobs.

Mr Ayitey, who is also the National Treasurer of the Association of Ghana Industries, said the hotel and hospitality industry responded to a call to expand facilities prior to the African Cup of Nations (CAN) 2007.

He said the private sector had kept faith with its contributions to the growth of the hospitality industry and it was important to receive equally critical support and concessions from the state.

Four honoured

Four individuals, who were honoured with citations, were Mr Ayitey;  the General Manager of Tang Palace Hotel, Sajid Khan; the General Manager of Accra City Hotel, Divine Matey; and the Managing Director of Labadi Beach Hotel, David Eduaful.

Mr Afunya said the recognition was to motivate and encourage the individuals and other stakeholders to do more and take the industry to greater heights. 

“Looking at their resilience in the industry, there was the need to show appreciation and honour those who have stood out. We just wanted to honour our people who are working for us,” he added. 

Teamwork  

After receiving his award, Mr Ayitey said despite the host of challenges facing the industry, there was a growing demand for tourism visits to Ghana. 

He, therefore, commended the association and its members, the Ghana Tourism Authority, and the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture for their continuous efforts to push the sector forward. 

For his part, Mr Eduaful stressed the need for teamwork and collaboration to push for mutually-beneficial agendas to enhance their common good. 

“It’s not an easy industry. It’s an industry where when the world catches cold, we all suffer. It’s a very fragile industry. The least thing that happens and we are all affected. So, if we don’t come together and we rather work in isolation, we will not get anywhere,” he explained. 

Mr Khan encouraged hotel owners and managers to be passionate and dedicated to their work and added that the country had been noticed and recognised. 

“Looking at the hospitality scene in places like Doha and Dubai, we haven’t reached there yet. But we have to be proud because even people in the hotel space over there are telling me that, at the moment, hospitality is in West Africa,” he said. 

Similarly, Mr Matey advised members of the association to forge ahead and not fear criticism because being criticised meant they could improve on something they were already doing. 

“You have to keep your focus. When COVID-19 came, we thought it was the end of the world and now it’s gone and we pray nothing else comes to disrupt our business.

“When we are focused and work together, we’ll reach the top,” he said.