The awards ceremony, which was the 10th in the series, saw Zaina Lodge, which is located at Mole National Park, emerge as the Hotel of the Year (two-star category) whiles Nim Avenue Hotel in Tamale picked the Hotel of the Year (one-star category).

Mr Cosmos Alhassan, the Managing Director of Nim Avenue Hotel, picked the Personality Award for Overall Best Practitioner whiles Dr Abdul Malik Seidu also picked the Personality Award for Tourism Promotion, with Mole National Park adjudged the Visitor Attraction of the Year.

Mr Salifu Saeed, the Northern Regional Minister, whose speech was read on his behalf at the ceremony on Saturday, urged tourism industry operators in the Region to maintain high standards and quality services to attract clients.

He spoke about the potentials of the tourism industry to the country’s economy calling for concerted efforts to unearth and develop the tourism potentials in the Region to provide complementary incomes for the youth especially during off farming season to prevent them from migrating down south.

He gave the assurance that government would continue to provide a congenial environment to support the growth of the tourism industry. Mr Akwesi Agyemang, the Acting Chief Executive Officer of GTA, whose speech was read on his behalf, advised hospitality service providers to continue to train their staff to ensure improved service delivery.

Mr Jonathan Twum-Osae, the Senior Resource Officer at the Northern Regional Office of GTA, said the tourism industry in the Region recorded a remarkable growth last year, employing a significant number of people.