Takoradi, Nov.21 -GNA - Western Regional Office of the Ghana Tourist Board (GTB) at the weekend closed down one hotel and two nightclubs in Sekondi-Takoradi for operating without licence.

The affected establishments are BBJ Night Club at West Fijai, Ridge Way Hotel at Chapel Hill and Bristol Bridge at Harbour View.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) after the operation, Mr Kwame Gyasi, Regional Manager of GTB, said it was intended to encourage hotels and nightclubs to regularise their operations to enable the GTB to raise standards in the hospitality industry to attract more visitors to the region.

He said the hospitality industry have to offer good services to support a programme of the GTB to attract one million visitors to the country by 2007.

Mr Gyasi said the programme would earn the country about one point five billion dollars.

He said tourists who would come to Sekondi-Takoradi for the CAN 2008 and to watch the total eclipse of the sun in March next year have to feel comfortable where they stay.

Mr Gyasi said the GTB would carry the exercise to other parts of the region to ensure that hotels and nightclubs observe at the least the minimum standards.