Players in the hospitality industry have been urged to employ qualified personnel and train them in relevant skills to enable them to offer satisfactory services to customers.

Madam Adeline Boateng, the Human Resource Manager of the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), who stated this, said players in the country’s hospitality industry paid little attention to quality service delivery even though it was one area that would propel the country as a destination of choice to tourists.

She was speaking at the Eighth edition of the Northern Regional Tourism Awards held in Tamale over the weekend to honour hospitality industry players in the region for their contributions to promote tourism in the region.

In all, awards in 21 competitive and honorary categories were presented to deserving tourism facilities whiles some individuals were also recognized for their contributions to promote tourism in the region.

Mariam Hotel picked the ultimate prize, whiles Mr. Emmanuel Adjei, the Director of Modern City Hotel, was adjudged Tourism Personality of the year for his roles in promoting tourism in the region.

Other tourism facilities that received awards were the Mole National Park; Radach Lodge and Conference Center; Steadfast Travel and Tours and Car Rentals.

Madam Boateng said, “Many hotels and restaurants have collapsed as a result of poor customer service and so it is important that the issue of training and customer service is taken seriously”.

She said the GTA, therefore, had developed training modules to build the capacity of staff at the front office, housekeeping, food and beverage service, food production, tour guiding, general customer care, hygiene and food safety management to ensure quality customer service delivery.

She, therefore, entreated owners of hospitality establishments to sponsor their staff to participate in GTA training sessions based on the modules to ensure quality customer service delivery saying, “The Tourism Development Fund will provide subsidies for the training”.

Madam Boateng announced that GTA had advanced in establishing a Tourism Data Entry Center to build reliable and internationally acceptable data on tourist arrivals, receipts, amongst others to policy makers, practitioners, and investors in taking measures to boost the tourism industry.

Alhaji Mohammed-Muniru Limuna, the Northern Regional Minister, whose speech was read on his behalf, said the region was poised to receive its fair share of the tourist traffic as government embarked on vital infrastructural facilities.

Alhaji Limuna mentioned the construction of Fufulso-Sawla Road, the ongoing construction of the Eastern Corridor Roads, which led to some of the major tourist sites in the entire northern sector, including the upgrading of the Tamale Airport, saying this infrastructure would boost tourism in the region.

Mr. Adjei, who spoke on behalf of the award winners, thanked the GTA for instituting the awards and congratulated the winners for their recognition and efforts at promoting tourism in the region.