Dedicated Hospitality Training Institutes Needed To Develop Tourism

Mr Ikechi Uko, Organiser of Weizo, a West African tour initiative, has said the unavailability of dedicated hospitality training institutes in the country is affecting the development of tourism.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency during a tour of the Tafi Atome Monkey Sanctuary in the Afadjato South District of the Volta Region as part of activities under the fourth edition of Weizo, he said tourists place value on the hospitality service, thus such training must help raise the standards of both formal and informal workers in the industry.

Mr Uko said tour guides, hotel attendants and other players ought to be well oriented to deal with the myriad of travel tourists.

He commended government for its efforts at reviving tourism in the country adding that through the adaptation of global standards, tourism in the African sub-region could receive significant patronage.

Mr Uko said facilities such as wash rooms must be up to standard and well distributed, whiles sign posts and advertisements need to be strategically placed to assist tourists locate facilities.

He said Ghanaians by nature exhibited a strong sense of hospitality and called on stakeholders to help promote culture tourism towards marketing our rich heritage.

He said the mountainous terrain of the Volta and other highland regions were suitable for the introduction of cable cars, zip lines and All-Terrain Vehicles to help improve access adding that opportunities abound for paragliding, and hiking.

This year's Weizo toured the Volta and Eastern Regions for the first time and the group which is made up of 70 journalists, travel writers, bloggers and tour guides from eight West African countries including Nigeria, Ghana, Tanzania, Benin, Togo, and Guinea, also visited the Shai Hills Game reserve, and the Akosombo Hydroelectric Dam in the Eastern Region.

Weizo concept which is being organised in collaboration with the Ghana Tourism Authority is in line with the latter's 'Eat, Feel, See and Wear Ghana' campaign to enable travel journalists promote tourism in the West African sub region.

GNA
By Samuel Akumatey, GNA