Accra, March 24, - Kempinski Hotel has been adjudged the
Five-Star Hotel of the Year 2017 at the 13th Edition of the National Tourism
Awards.
The Four-Star Award went to Tang
Palace Hotel, while Acqua Safari Resort received the Three-Star Hotel of the
Year. Zaina Lodge was adjudged the Two-Star Hotel of the Year with Green Oak
Hotel receiving the One-Star Hotel of the Year.
The awards ceremony, organised by
the Ghana Tourism Authority, on the theme: “Promoting Responsible Tourism,”
presented 27 competitive and honorary awards to individuals and organisations
who have made immense contributions to the growth and development of Ghana's
tourism industry.
The ceremony, held at the Accra
International Conference Centre, was graced by industry players, government
officials, traditional rulers and heads of diplomatic missions.
Mrs Catherine Abelema Afeku, the
Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, said the awards aimed to instil an
industry-wide service culture that squarely matched prevailing global standards
and made the sector truly competitive.
She said tourism was a major
pillar of the economy and it was expected to be one of the key drivers of
Ghana's socio-economic transformation through the creation of jobs, foreign
exchange receipts, urban regeneration and the stimulation of local
manufacturing to meet the diverse needs of the sector.
Mrs Afeku said government's
unwavering commitment to the sector is reflected in the unprecedented increase
in its 2018 budgetary allocation.
She said the Government had
outlined many product development initiatives to upgrade tourism sites and
enhance visitor experience, restored tax incentives for investment into the
sector and undertaken robust marketing campaigns and strategic partnerships to
accelerate development.
"Again the introduction of
the Single Widow Destination Project reaffirms Government's commitment to
promoting excellence in the tourism industry. The Project, when fully
operational, will provide a consolidative portal to measure tourism's
contribution to the economy and also assist SMEs in the tourism business to become
visible to the world.
"I am confident that
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo's vision for the tourism sector can be
achieved and the full benefits of a robust sector thriving tourism sector
realised across the span of the entire value chain," she said.
Mrs Afeku called for the end of
open defecation at tourist sites and in communities.
She congratulated the award
winners for their diligence and hard work and urged them to continue to make
excellence their hallmark and play their critical roles to create a
professional service culture in the tourism sector.
Nana Kodwo Conduah VI, Omanhene
of Edina Traditional Area, who was the Guest of Honour, said the tourism
industry was the fastest growing industry worldwide, with Ghana being the
centre of the world.
He said it required diligence,
professionalism, innovation, creativity to remain above the competition and
satisfy the growing and diverse pace of tourism business.
He called on the Ministry of
Tourism, Arts and Culture, the Ghana Tourism Authority and industry players to
be mindful of the global competitive nature of tourism, and endeavour to offer
products and services that could match international quality and standards.
Mr Akwasi Agyeman, the Chief
Executive Officer of the Ghana Tourism Authority, said the National Tourism
Awards programme was instituted by the Ghana Tourism Authority in 1997 to
reward excellent performance in tourism.
He said it was also to raise
standards and encourage healthy competition among industry players with a view
to positioning tourism as a vibrant economic sector and consolidate the
country's position as a preferred tourist destination.
Honorary awards were presented to
Mr Frank Apeagyei, Mr William Charles Danniels, Mr Nkunu Akyea, Madam Bella Ahu
and Madam Maleani Kaisse.
Other awards include Guest House
of the Year - Petit Palais, Budget Hotel of the Year - Aborigines Beach Resort,
Hostel of the Year- Charlotte Hostel, Tour Operator of the Year - Land Tours
Ghana Ltd, and Traditional Caterer of the Year - Bush Canteen.
The rest are Site Guide of the
Year - Jemimah Kesse, Tour Guide of the Year - Mr Herbert Nii Kpakpo
Allotei-Cofie, Airline of the Year (Tourism Promotion) - KLM, and Visitor
Attraction of the Year - Kakum National Park.
Restaurant of the Year
(Indigenous) - Azemera Restaurant, Fast Food Establishment of the Year - Papaye
Fast Foods, Night Club of the Year - Plot 7, Drinking Bar of the Year -
Treasures Drinking Bar, Car Rental Service of the Year - St. Michael’s Car
Rental, Constant Payment of Tourism Levy (Catering) – Platinum Gray, Restaurant
of the Year - Moti Mahal Restaurant, Serviced Apartment of the Year - Rockville
Apartment, Travel Agency of the Year - Satguru Travels, and Constant Payment of
Tourism Levy of the Year (Accomodation) - Anita Hotel.
Tourism Writer of the Year - Kofi
Akpabli, the Mirror, Tourism Oriented Media of the Year (Radio) - Citi FM,
(Television) - Untied Television (UTV), (Print) - The Mirror, (Online) -
Ghanaweb.com and Tourism Programme of the Year - Heritage Ghana, UTV.
GNA
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