Our Regulator for today is the Ghana Tourism Authority (“GTA”). GTA is governed by the Tourism Act 2011 (Act 817) (the “Act”) and regulates tourism in Ghana by marketing, promoting, licensing, classifying, researching and developing tourism facilities and services in the country.
Some enterprises that are regulated by the GSA are as follows:
- Tourist Accommodation (Hotels, Resorts, spas, guest houses, lodges, holiday apartments, rest stops, tourism camps, etc.)
- Travel Trade Agencies (tour operators, travel agencies, car rentals, tour guides, charter flight operators, site guides, etc.)
- Nightclubs and theatres (pubs, movie houses, etc.)
- Food and beverage sites (restaurants, entertainment centres, a tea room or spot, rest stop)
- Banqueting (a theme park, a commercial swimming pool facility, a beach recreational facility, an event house, health farm, etc.)
- Sport facilities (golf courses, commercial tennis facilities, gymnasiums, etc.)
- Sporting Activities (Boat riding, water sport, sport fishing, aero sports, paragliding, etc)
The GSA is mandated by the Act to register and license tourism enterprises and sites and a person shall not operate any of the tourism enterprises listed above unless that person holds a valid license issued by the GSA in respect of that tourism enterprise. The GSA is required to inspect tourism premises before a license is issued.
The license shall be renewed on a yearly basis and failure to register with and obtain a license from the GSA before commencing business is a criminal offence punishable by a term of imprisonment or a fine or both
It is important to note that all advertisements or promotions in respect of tourism information by any person must be certified by the GTA.