Picture: A group picture of the Members of the Institute of Hospitality
The President of the Institute of Hospitality (IH) has called on the government to invest more in the hospitality and tourism sector because the industry is an engine for economic development and GDP growth. Speaking at the opening ceremony of its 11th annual delegates conference held at the campus of Kumasi Technical University (KsTU) on the theme, “The nexus between hospitality and national development in the 21st century”, Mrs. Matilda Asamoah-Appiah emphasized the need to take the tourism industry seriously.
Mrs. Asamoah-Appiah noted that the sector has played a significant role in boosting the nation’s economy and has contributed to the general wellbeing of the economy. She expressed optimism that when issues are well handled within the tourism sector it will increase employment opportunities for the youth of the country. She revealed that the association is making efforts in bridging the gap between academia and industry at large so that the youth will meet the demands of the industry and make them more productive for the growth of the country.
On his part, Dr. Joseph Mensah-Ansah who was the Guest speaker for the conference and National President of the Ghana Hotels Association (GHA) appealed to employers in the hospitality and tourism industry to train their employees in such a way that they will add value to the services they provide. He indicated that while the industry can give several reasons for not permitting their staff to be trained, it is high time they considered innovative ways to empower learners and make strides in their training experiences. He also advised that approaches such as on-the-job training, peer-to-peer coaching delivered with the help of technology could be adopted to deal with the situation of not having time for further training.
The Head of the Food Technology Department at KsTU, Prof. Felix Narku Engmann, advised players in the hospitality and tourism sector to introduce tourists to the Ghanaian local dishes when they visit the country. He believes food plays a significant role in promoting tourism in the country.
Commenting on the need to provide adequate teaching equipment to the Department, Dr. Patricia Owusu Darko, the Director of Graduate School pleaded with policymakers and the government to retool the laboratories that train students within the Department of Hotel, Catering, and Institutional Management. The IH used the conference to also launch its 50th anniversary celebration.