The Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Ms Elizabeth Ofosu- Adjare, has urged tourism operators to ensure prompt payment of the one per cent tourism levy into the Ghana Tourism Development Fund.
The levy, which is a consumer tax for patrons of tourism facilities, is expected to generate revenue for government to help in the promotion of the country’s tourism was operationalised in October 2012.
The sector minister also explained that government had subsequently gone ahead to pass the Tourism Regulation Levy 2013, LI 2185, which has firmly established the Ghana Tourism Development Fund.
“The objects of the fund are noble and therefore all tourism operators must ensure the collection of the one per cent levy, which is one of the main sources of the fund. Let me also remind operators that the one per cent levy is only a consumer tax paid by consumers. It is not an additional tax and once they collect it, they must pay promptly into the fund,” she explained.
The fund, she said, was to be judiciously applied for the marketing of domestic and international tourism, used for market research, development of tourism infrastructure, development and promotion of other entrepreneurial activities, tourism education and training as well tourism export trade oriented activities.
Government has further strengthened the tourism public sector by promulgating the new tourism law, Act 817, which has transformed the Ghana Tourism Board into the Ghana Tourism Authority with greater responsibilities, a broader mandate and enhanced powers to organise and regulate the tourism industry.
“Hitherto, tourism facilities such as theme parks, gulf courts, beach recreational facilities, commercial swimming pools, movie houses were outside the mandate of the GTA but now it has supervisory roles over all of these to make sure that tourism activities are brought under one umbrella for effective control and monitoring,” she added.
2015 Budget on tourism
Government has allocated an amount of GH¢33.3 million for the implementation of various programmes and activities earmarked for the tourism sector for 2015 and it is expected to create 392,000 jobs for the economy.
According to the 2015 budget statement, the ministry would develop standards for new tourism enterprises including conference centres, SPAs, parks, health farms, off-shore catering establishments, tour guides and tourist attractions.
The Tourism Ministry is also expected to upgrade the software for the collection of national tourism levy and make it operational, provide extension services to tourism enterprise developers in 10 regions, inspect and license 4,500 informal tourism enterprises and highway rest stops.
“Other interventions will also include the production of 2000 pieces of plaques for licensing up-market hotels, organise 10 mobile training for hospitality service providers and school leavers to service the industry,” the 2015 budget said.
It said the ministry would continue its efforts to position Ghana’s tourism in the global market while promoting Ghana as the preferred tourist destination in Africa. Activities outlined will include participation in international tourism and cultural conferences, fairs and exhibitions and organisation of special events such as Emancipation Day Celebration/ PANAFEST, 10th Okwahu Paragliding, National Chocolate Day and HOMOFEST.