The fifth Public Private Partnership Forum for the tourism sector was held on May 16th, 2024, in Koforidua. The Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) organised the meeting in partnership with the Development Bank of Ghana (DAB) and the Tour Operators Union of Ghana. There were key outcomes aimed at supporting Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in the tourism sector.
The meeting agreed to have a follow-up engagement with Development Bank Ghana to explore ways to support the private sector industry players. The collaboration aimed at providing access to financing and other resources to help tour operators grow their businesses. The meeting also secured a business development fund from Rwanda to support a study tour in Ghana for SMEs. The initiative will enable tour operators to learn from best practices from other countries and apply them to their businesses.
The meeting identified four key areas of support for SMEs in the tourism sector namely:
• Capacity Building: Providing training and skills development opportunities to enhance the competitiveness of tour operators.
• Expanding Opportunities through Digital Hubs: Leveraging digital platforms to increase market access and reach a wider audience.
• Access to Finance: Facilitating access to financing options to support
business growth and development.
• Reputation building: Enhancing the reputation of tour operators through quality assurance and standards development
Twenty (20) members of the Tour Operators Union of Ghana signed on to Development Bank Ghana’s Integrated Financial Ecosystem platform developed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and Bank of Ghana (BoG), where they could source funding and other business opportunities.
Overall, the meeting marked a significant step forward in supporting the growth and development of SMEs in the tourism sector, with the outcomes expected to impact the industry positively.
