The Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) has begun a two day exercise in the Eastern Region to enforce voluntary payment of the 1% tourism levy and to promote quality standards, safety and security in the tourism industry.
Mr. Prince Yaw Essah, Tourism Fund development Manager, speaking to the media before embarking on the exercises today Thursday, December 12, 2019 warned operators of hospitality facilities which have defaulted in the payment of the domestic tourism levy to pay immediately or risk closure as they embark on a two days enforcement of quality standard and 1% tourism levy exercise in the Region.
According to him, the exercise is backed by acts of parliament and legislative instrument, the Levy is also stipulated in the Tourism Act 817 of 2011, tourism levy LI, LI22, LI38, and LI2239 is meant to provide the requisite resources for sustainable development of the tourism industry.
Operators in the tourism sector in the region including hoteliers, catering service providers, and hostels are expected to cooperate with the monitoring team for the good of the industry.
Mr. Essah said the exercise would see the taskforce visiting 151 tourism facilities in the Region and the said number owns GTA GH₵286,594.51, and they are to verify how they were complying with the payment of the Levy.
He said the exercise is to promote quality standards, safety and security in the tourism industry and it would ensure strict compliance in the payment of the levy.
Mr. Essah again urged stakeholders, especially key players in the tourism industry to strive to do the right thing; this is because the Levy paid by users of tourism establishments or units in the form of indirect tax is ultimately to the benefit of the nation.
Mr. Frederick Adjei-Rudolph, Eastern Regional Manager indicated that tourism had huge potentials, which could be tapped for job and wealth creation, hence the need to enforce the quality standard.
He, therefore, urged Stakeholders to be supportive of the work of the GTA in the interest of all and sundry.
Source: Evans Boateng
