Accra Aug. 25, GNA - The Ministry of Tourism and Modernization of the Capital City, has started an educational programme to update the hospitality services, to make Ghana, the preferred choice of tourists.

Mr Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, the sector Minister, who made this known in interview with the Ghana News Agency on Wednesday, said, "it is not enough to be just hospitable and give broad smiles to our visitors." "There should be a level of professionalism in everything done at our hotels and restaurants."

Mr Obetsebi-Lamptey said food was a major tourism product, hence the need for handlers to package it well in an attractive manner. He referred to a publication by a London newspaper with the headline: "3.5 million pounds campaign to make waiters more cheerful", and asked if countries like Britain are marketing its tourism potentials then what about Ghana?

Mr Obetsebi-Lamptey said the Ministry would build the capacity of the Ghana Tourist Board, to ensure compliance of good standards of hygiene in the operation of hospitality services and apply sanctions when necessary. Mr Obetsebi-Lamptey said the Ministry was working with the relevant agencies to reduce the high airfares and hotel tariffs that make Ghana an expensive tourist destination. He said the Ministry would collaborate with the security agencies, to flush out undesirable tourists.