The Ghana Tourism Federation (GHATOF), an umbrella body for all the Tourism Trade Associations in Ghana, has appealed to the government to consider the cost of the COVID-19 test on arrival at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA).
A statement issued in Accra by Mr Bella Ayayee Ahu, GHATOF, President said the cost of the test was making travelling expensive as the industry sought to use the December in Ghana to kick start International arrivals in the country.
It said the tourism and hospitality industry was doing what it could to stimulate demand but “we continue to see cancellations of already booked trips because of the extra $150 charges on PCR Test, a challenge to most travellers in this COVID-19 pandemic period.”
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It said the Travel, Tourism and Hospitality sector was the hardest hit sector by the COVID-19. “Unfortunately, little support has been received to support the sector to gain its feet and bounce back,” it added.
The statement said the hotels, car rentals, tour guides, restaurants, tour operators, pubs, event organizers who were all members of the Federation continue to struggle with little or no support.
It said as resilient as the sector had always proven to be “we believe that the Government in collaboration with the Stakeholders must work together and make deliberate efforts geared towards sustaining businesses and saving livelihoods.”
It said the industry was of the view that a downward review of the PCR test at the Airport would go a long to support the sector.
“We also wish to appeal to the government to have an industry targeted support for the Tourism, Travel and Hospitality sector,” it added.
Source: GNA