The Ghana Tourism Federation has expressed worry about the slow pace of government support to revive the tourism sector.

The tourism sector is expected to grow strongly this year as manifested in the second quarter Gross Domestic Product figures, despite the low support from government.

Speaking to Joy Business, Executive Secretary of the Ghana Tourism Federation, made up of 25 trade associations, Emmanuel Frimpong, said government must up its support to the players in the tourism sector.

“I know government is doing a lot to support the industry, but obviously it has been slow. So, we are hoping that in the next coming weeks or probably months, we will begin to see that support that we’ve always sort from government coming in.”

“I know a lot of our tourism players will be trained in several areas and some will also be supported. I know government is working on that”, he however pointed out.
Mr. Frimpong further said his outfit has been in touch with the Ministry of Tourism, Ghana Tourism Authority and other agencies in the value chain for support, adding “so yes we are very hopeful”.

“2021 was not the best, but 2022 we are very hopeful. Things are looking good”, he stated.

Fitch Solutions had earlier revealed that tourist arrivals into Ghana is expected to grow by 47% this year, following easing of Covid-19 restrictions.

This is coming from a contraction of 65% in 2020, due to effects of Covid-19 which triggered restrictions in some sectors of the economy.

“Ghana’s tourism sector has been negatively impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic and related travel restrictions. In 2021, we forecast tourist arrivals to grow by 47.0% year-on-year”, the report stated.

According to the Ghana Statistical Service, the Hotel and Restaurants sub sector was the third fastest growing in the second quarter of this year, expanding by more than 20%.