The Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) has begun a tourism sector reset to transform the administration, regulation and economic value of the tourism sector through digitalisation, stronger standards and improved use of data.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the GTA, Maame Efua Houadjeto, said the Ghana Tourism Information System (GTIS) would be central to the reset by bringing key tourism processes into an integrated digital environment.
She said the system would cover registration, licensing and renewal, tourism levy filing and payments, tourism establishment records and public verification.
Mrs Houadjeto was speaking at the 2026 Greater Accra Regional Tourism Awards in Accra last Friday.
The event was held on the theme: “Celebrating Excellence Beyond Borders: The Black Star Experience”.
Mrs Houadjeto said the system would make it easier for tourism businesses to engage with the authority, improve compliance and transparency, and give the public greater confidence in tourism establishments.
“In simple terms, we are moving from paper to digital, from queues to clicks, and from fragmented information to a more connected tourism system,” she said.
The GTA CEO said the value of GTIS went beyond convenience, explaining that reliable data would enable the authority to better understand Ghana’s tourism ecosystem and support regulation, planning, investment decisions and policy development.
She said the tourism reset also sought to increase the economic value derived from every visitor by focusing on how much tourists spent, how long they stayed, the destinations they visited and the extent to which local businesses and communities benefited from the visitors’ experience.
Domestic tourism
Mrs Houadjeto said domestic tourism was also critical to the reset, stressing the need for Ghanaians to explore their own heritage, culture and attractions.
“Ghana must not only be a destination for the international traveller; Ghana must become a destination for Ghanaians themselves,” she said.
She said a stronger domestic tourism market would create demand for local businesses and retain more tourism expenditure within the Ghanaian economy.
Mrs Houadjeto further called for improved standards across hotels, hostels, guesthouses, restaurants, tour operators, attractions and other tourism establishments.
She said the GTA’s responsibility went beyond issuing licences and certificates, adding that standards relating to accommodation, safety, sanitation, service delivery and overall visitor experience had to be maintained throughout the life of an establishment.
Celebrating excellence
The Greater Accra Regional Director of the GTA, Roberta Baaba Mprah Arhinful, said the region was at the heart of Ghana’s tourism experience as the country’s gateway to the world.
She said Accra offered a blend of heritage, culture, cuisine, entertainment, nightlife and creativity, and had the potential to become one of Africa’s leading tourism and creative capitals.
Mrs Arhinful said tourism was not only about attracting visitors but also about creating authentic and memorable experiences.
“What truly sets us apart is not only what the visitors see when they come here.
It is what they feel: the warmth of our people, the rhythm of our music, the taste of our food, and that unmistakable Ghanaian spirit that says Akwaaba,” she said.
A speech read on behalf of the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Linda Obenewaa Ocloo, congratulated the award winners and nominees, and urged tourism practitioners to embrace innovation, protect the environment, promote domestic tourism and improve customer service.
The minister said every tourism professional was an ambassador of Ghana, and called for collaboration to build a competitive, sustainable and inclusive tourism industry.
The awards ceremony featured 24 categories, recognising individuals, businesses and institutions for their contributions to the tourism industry in the Greater Accra Region.
Labadi Beach Hotel emerged as the Five-Star Hotel of the Year, receiving recognition for its contribution to the region’s hospitality industry.
Other awardees were Pilma Hotel as Budget Hotel of the Year; Mayflower Inn as Guest House of the Year; Fiesta Residences as Service Apartment of the Year; Eden Gardens Hotel as One-Star Hotel of the Year; La Villa Boutique Hotel as Two-Star Hotel of the Year; Oak Plaza as Three-Star Hotel of the Year; and Tang Palace as Four-Star Hotel of the Year.
