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Ebola collapsing tourism business

The Ghana Hotels Association says the “overemphasis”  of the presence of Ebola in West Africa is collapsing the tourism industry in the country.

He said although the deadly disease had been detected in three West African countries; Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone only, the situation had been created that the “whole  of West Africa  is engulfed  in the deadly scourge.”  

At a press conference to raise issues about the negative effect of the Ebola pandemic on businesses, the chairman of the Cape Coast branch of the association, Mr Benjamin Baidoo, said “We must drive the point that Ghana is only a country in West Africa, but not West Africa.” 

The Central Region of Ghana, has an assortment of current and potential tourism attractions with hotels catering for local and foreign visitors.

Some of the tourism sites are the Cape Coast and Elmina Castles, the Kakum Walkway and Natural Reserve, Fort St George, beautiful coastlines, traditional festivals and pageants.

Mr Baidoo said tourism, which had been promoted for many years as a pivotal sector vital for Ghana’s economic development, was now on its knees as a result of those negative sentiments.

He said average occupancy had dropped significantly, with members reporting cancellation rates of 80 per cent, particularly from major operators who bring in large groups from America and Europe.

“One regular seasonal arrival of more than 1,000 visitors who land at Takoradi and take rooms throughout  the Central and other regions, cancelled their October visit, due to the  Ebola scare,” he said. 

Mr Baidoo called for a concerted effort among members to ensure that the coastal lines were strictly protected, while the roads serving the tourism destinations were resurfaced.

“We must take the opportunity to promote Ghana in order to balance the negative sentiments prevailing against West Africa as a tourism destination. If we don’t seize the opportunity, someone else will do that,” he stressed.

Energy

Mr Baidoo bemoaned the unacceptable level of load shedding, particularly in the Central Region, which he said was having a debilitating effect on “our businesses.”

He said besides damages caused to their equipment, members had to spend close to GH¢500 daily to power their plants, a situation he described as frustrating.

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