Alhaji Amidu Sulemana, Upper West Regional Minister said the region was endowed with tourists atractions and if fully developed could contribute sufficient revenue to the national economy.

He however noted that the few tourists’ site that had been development, tourists were not adequately patronising them because of the engagement of unqualified personnel to man the facilities.

Alhaji Sulemana said the preference by hoteliers to appoint unqualified personnel as front desk service attendance had resulted in poor service delivery and customers care, which was driving away several tourists from patronalising their facilities.

The Regional Minister was addressing hoteliers, caterers, service providers, individuals and institutions operating in the tourism industry at the Upper West Region’s Edition of Ghana Tourism Authority Awards Night in Wa,

It was on theme: “Rewarding excellence through healthy competition” and in all 15 managers and manageress as well as individuals and institutions were awarded for providing quality services and decent accommodation to tourists in the region.

Alhaji Sulemana urged managers and manageress of hoteliers to provide employment to Polytechnic graduates and pay them properly so that they can give of their best to enhance competition in the tourism sector to attract more tourists to the region.

He said quality tourism comes with investments in terms of infrastructure and government alone cannot do that and called for public, private partnership as the way forward in making Ghana a competitive quality tourism destination.

The Regional Minister said government on its part was working hard to ensure that tourism rooted at the local government levels to promote ownership by the local community with a particular emphasizes on rural community development.

He announced that the Gbelle Game Reserve in the region was being developed to add to the Mole Game Reserve in the Northern Region to boost eco-tourism.

Mr. Henry Yeleduor, Upper West Regional Manager of Ghana Tourism Authority, said the awards to reward deserving industry practitioners and other stakeholders who had demonstrated excellence in their operations and also showed commitment towards the development and the growth of tourism industry.

He said the value of recognising and rewarding champions of exceptional service was intended to set and consistently raise the standards of what was attainable and desirable in the competitive global tourism market.

He pointed out that while the sector continues its progressive growth and development, it was essential as service providers to remain true to the core values of providing consistent, exceptional service to their valued customers both local and international.

Naa Danyagiri Walaman-i, Chief Tokali who chaired the function, noted that tourism was one of the surest ways to boost the economy and urged government to address the equipment and staff constraints to boost the industry.

“Don’t go in for cheap labour to raise the bar and make the service unattractive to visitors. Service delay and time wasting should be avoided”, he advised.