By Michael Kofi Kenetey
A Professor at the Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management at the University of Cape Coast (UCC), Professor Ishmael Mensah has touted the Eastern Region as a well-placed region and blessed with the ingredients for competitive and sustainable tourism development.
However, he reiterated that any country, region, or destination that is serious about tourism must also recognise that attractions alone are not enough for tourism development.
Prof. Mensah was speaking during the 2024 Eastern Regional Tourism Awards in Koforidua, the Eastern Regional capital.
The Guest Speaker of the programme, Professor Ishmael Mensah, outlined that a competitive tourism destination must have the right blend of services, facilities, and infrastructure to complement the attractions of the area and not only its attractions.
He added that quantity and quality of services and facilities must work hand in hand to enhance a competitive tourism destination.
The Eastern Regional Director of Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), Dinah Adu-Owusu, hinted that the future of tourism greatly depends on the ability of industry players to be continually innovative in tune with technology to meet the changing demands of dynamic travelers to provide unforgettable experiences worth paying for.
Ms. Adu-Owusu lamented that it is unfortunate that presently in the region only few hotels have vibrant and robust online presence in this digital age when internet accessibility is much better than it used to be.
The CEO of GTA, Akwasi Agyeman, noted that presently tourism is about people, products, innovations, and places, and that the Eastern Region has them all. He added that the cultural diversity of the region is one of a kind in terms of tourism.
The 2024 Eastern Regional Tourism Awards in Koforidua, which was on the theme “Celebrating Innovation and Recognising Excellence in Ghana’s Tourism Sector,” brought together players in the tourism and hospitality industry in the region to celebrate their contribution towards the development of the industry in the region for the year under review.
Furthermore, it seeks to acknowledge deserving industry players who have excelled in maintaining standards and providing excellent service delivery in the tourism and hospitality industry, which, in effect, is contributing immensely to the national development.
The Royal Senchi Hotel and Resort emerged as the Four Star Hotel of the Year, while Valley Safari Resort received the Good Corporate Entity of the Year. Mr. Haruna Wumpini of the Daily Graphic received the Tourism-oriented Media Personality of the Year, while Citi FM and Channel One TV received the Tourism-oriented Media House of the Year.
