The 300 participants included managers, supervisors, and front desk executives in hotels, restaurants, guest houses, chop bars, pubs and tourist attraction sites.

It was organised by the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MoTAC).
The Bono East Regional Director of the GTA, Mr Joseph Appiagyei, in an address said MoTAC and his outfit held the workshop to enhance the skills of players in the sector, to meet the standards and quality of services provided.

Mr Appiagyei said participants were taken through topics such as electronic marketing, improved customer service, front desk skills, personal and facility hygiene, health and safety of staff and visitors.

The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Techiman, Benjamin Yaw Gyarko, urged members of the hospitality industry to take advantage of the Ghana CARES ‘Obaatan pa’ comprehensive programme to revitalise their businesses to ensure a sustained path of robust growth.
Mr Gyarko noted that the GH¢ 100 billion fund was aimed at mitigating the impacts of COVID-19

FROM KINGSLEY E.HOPE, KUMASI
THE Fashion Design Students Association of the Faculty of Vocational, Fashion and Textile Education of the Akenten Appiah-Menka University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development (AAMUSTED) has called on the government to invest more into the Technical and Vocational Training Education (TVET).
The move, according to the association, would no doubt endow students with the entrepreneurial skills needed to start one’s own business.

“TVET is the way to go, as it can improve the unemployment situation in the country, my colleagues in the final year will be graduating with skills to set up own businesses and can even employ,” Mr Philip Opoku Adjei, President of the Association said.

He was speaking to the media at the annual fashion show and exhibition of the Fashion Department of the University at the weekend.
It was an opportunity for the final year students in the department to present their artistic creations to the general public for sale and their aesthetic appreciation. pandemic in order to create a stronger, more resilient and transformed economy.

The MCE stated that the government’s overall vision and medium-term priorities set out in the National Tourism Plan (NTP) had been prioritised under the programme to the sector over three years.

Mr Gyarko indicated that the fund was to ensure investment and development of infrastructure, marketing, improving supply-chain links, enhanced capacity of key tourism institutions and actors, and improved coordination with the private sector.

“The interventions are expected to increase tourism arrivals, jobs in the tourism industry and tourism’s contribution to Gross Domestic Growth (GDP) by two per cent by 2023,” he added. The MCE expressed appreciation to the Ministry, GTA and hoteliers association for their efforts to revitalise the industry in the Bono East.
The General Manager of Kintampo-based Grand Royal Diamond Hotel, Mr Japheth Elliott, on behalf of the beneficiaries, thanked the organisers for rescuing the industry and promised to put the skills learnt to good use.