.…to boost West Africa’s tourist appeal
The Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) has emphasized the importance of standardizing hotels in West Africa to ensure a consistent and high-quality experience for tourists.
According to Ama Akoto, Deputy Director, Hospitality, Standards and Quality Assurance, GTA, standardization is crucial for building trust, credibility, and a positive reputation in the tourism industry.
Speaking on the topic: “Standardizing Hotels in West Africa”, at the 7th Accraweizo conference in Accra, Akoto noted that standardization is like a recipe for success, where protocols and procedures are followed to ensure consistency in service, safety, quality, and amenities across the hospitality sector.
She noted that without standards, the quality and consistency of tourism services and experiences would vary widely, leading to unpredictable guest experiences and difficulty comparing and choosing tourism products and services.
The GTA Deputy Director, says, it could also lead to increased risk of safety and security issues, reduced competitiveness in the global tourism market, and difficulty attracting high-value tourists and investors.
To achieve standardization, Akoto stressed the need for a shared language, integration, and partnerships within the tourism and hospitality sectors.
“It is important to have a shared language, promote integration by forming regional alliances, and establish partnerships within the tourism and hospitality sectors”.
She also harped on the importance of technology, quality and service standards, safety and security, health and hygiene, sustainability, training and development, and regulatory frameworks in the standardization process.
According to her, the Ghana Tourism Authority has implemented a well-defined hotel classification and grading scheme, and other countries in the region, such as Nigeria, have also established their own standards and classification systems.
“Economic Community of West African States, (ECOWAS) has implemented various harmonization initiatives to promote regional integration and cooperation among its member states.In 1999, Regulation 14/12/99 was enacted, which pertains to the adoption of standards for the classification of hotels, motels, and guest inns”.
“This regulation was created to coordinate tourism development activities among the Member States to integrate the sector within the sub-region. This initiative aimed to establish and uphold high standards for tourism in the sub-region, ultimately increasing the flow of tourists to the Member States”, she added.
However, Akoto noted that implementation challenges include resource limitations, enforcement, and varying levels of regulatory enforcement across different countries.
Despite these challenges, she noted that standardizing hotels in West Africa is a complex but crucial process that enhances the quality and reliability of hospitality services, improves the attractiveness of the region as a tourist destination, and fosters economic growth.
