Kumasi, July 11, GNA - The Ashanti Regional Taskforce of the Ghana Tourist Board (GTB), has intensified its efforts to flush out sub-standard and unlicensed tourist facilities in the Region to improve services.

Mr Ekow Sampson, the Regional Manager, noted that with its huge tourist potentials, the Region could advance its socio-economic development if managers of facilities worked in line with professional standards as required by the Board.

He was briefing the Ghana News Agency in Kumasi at the weekend, after the Taskforce closed down 12 facilities in the Region for operating without the GTB license, which was in contravention of the law.

They include Garden City, Original 34 and Naka Royal hotels, Nobs, Windsor Castle, Simple and Arena Guesthouses, Ravens Catering Services, Holy Mary Catering Services, Holiday's Inn Rest House, Standford Bridge Rest House and Icon Pub and Restaurant.

This brings to 23 the number of facilities so far closed down since the exercise started a week ago.

The Regional Manager observed that unlicensed hotels and guest houses could easily served as a haven for criminal activities since the operations of these facilities were not known and also not regulated by the GTB.