Tourism levy generates over GH ¢ 1 million so far in the year

The Ghana Tourism Authority is hoping to generate in excess of the GH¢ 3 million target for the Tourism Development Levy by the end of the year.

The authority has so far in the year grossed over GH¢ 1 million from the 1 percent levy imposed on tourism facilities. This was generated from almost 800 accommodation facilities and some 30 first class catering facilities and restaurants across the country registered on the collection platform.

The Acting Chief Executive, Sampson Donkor has been updating JOY BUSINESS.

“For the hotels we have about 980 more left and for the catering houses, about 316 also left across the country. Even though many more is yet to be covered, we have captured the bigger units involving the 3, 4 and 5 star hotels which we expected to collect a chunk of the levy. And because they are using electronic systems, it is easier to monitor than the others. And so we have completed that and going to the second phase" he outlined.

He added that the authority has instituted measures to ensure the 3 million Ghana cedi target is surpassed.

“The second phase will encompass the rest of the star-rated facilities as well as the non star-rated facilities and the remaining catering facilities. In all we are envisaging about a 1, 612 enterprise to be covered between now and August" he said.

"We have allocated funds for that and have already alerted our regional offices and are ready to go round to do the registration. When they bring the forms down here, our job will be to just issue the certificates and put them on the platform. If we are able to capture the rest of the formal sector onto the platform by the end of the year, we are hoping to go beyond our target” he concluded.

Story by Ghana / Joy Business / Emmanuel Agyei