GHANA TOURISM AUTHORITY EYES RENEWABLE ENERGY TO DRIVE DOWN HOTEL RATES
Ghana Tourism Authority explores solar and sustainable energy solutions to enhance cost-efficiency and competitiveness in the tourism sector.
The Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) is pursuing innovative strategies to reduce and stabilize hotel rates by promoting renewable energy, particularly solar power, within the hospitality industry.
In a media interaction at the launch of the GTA’s new Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Department, CEO Maame Efua Houadjeto revealed that the authority is actively engaging financial institutions to provide funding opportunities for hotels seeking to invest in sustainable energy technologies.
“Installing solar energy in every hotel is quite an investment, but it’s necessary to reduce costs. We’re looking for partnerships to help our hotels reach that level where every hotel has solar installations, reducing their utility bills and ultimately lowering hotel rates,” Houadjeto explained.
The GTA is focused on positioning Ghana as a leading tourism destination in West Africa and beyond, but according to Houadjeto, the current hotel rates in the country are higher than competitive destinations. She believes that renewable energy solutions, like solar power, are key to making Ghana more attractive to tourists by lowering operational costs.
Additionally, Houadjeto emphasized the importance of sustainable transportation within the tourism sector. The authority is considering the introduction of electric vehicles (EVs) for car rentals to further enhance the country’s appeal to eco-conscious travelers.
Jones Nelson, Director of the newly established Public-Private Partnership Department, highlighted the importance of collaboration with the private sector to drive investment into the tourism sector. The department aims to broaden its scope to include training for tour guides, hotel staff, and offering financial support for green energy initiatives.
“We are talking to a few banks to support the tourism sector with soft loans, allowing hoteliers to invest in green energy solutions, like solar power, which will help reduce the cost of running their businesses,” Nelson said.
The event also introduced Bright Asempa Tsadidey as the newly appointed Director of Corporate Affairs at the GTA.
Source:NKONKONSA.com
