Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Tourism Development Company (GTDC), Prof. Kobby Mensah, has outlined his vision to position GTDC as a strong commercial driver within Ghana’s tourism industry.
Speaking on Starr Showbiz with Feeling Daddy on Starr 103.5 FM on Saturday, July 12, Prof. Mensah explained that GTDC’s mandate is to serve as the commercial arm of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture, focusing on revenue generation for government.
“It’s a place that says that the mandate is the commercial arm of the ministry, tourism, culture, and creative art. Go out there and make sure you make money for the government. And that’s the difference between GTDC and GTA,” he stated.
He clarified that while the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) acts as a regulator to promote tourism and ensure standards, GTDC plays a purely commercial role by directly engaging in tourism business activities. According to him, GTA promotes Ghana to the world, ensuring quality standards and creating awareness, but it is GTDC’s responsibility to implement commercial operations.
“So GTA must ensure that quality standards are being obeyed by people, must ensure that the world knows about Ghana, so they will go to WTM, World Tourism Market, promote Ghana generally. It is not GTA’s job to handhold them and then bring them to Ghana. They have to then float those people to the industry players,” he explained.
Prof. Mensah noted that GTDC will operate as a tour agency, car rental agency, and tourism service provider to ensure that the country earns revenue from its tourism resources.
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He emphasised that innovation and technology remain top priorities in his vision for the company.
“I feel that we’re in a technology age. Innovation is one of my priorities,” he added, indicating plans to introduce technological solutions to enhance GTDC’s operations and improve service delivery to both domestic and international tourists.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh
