The Ghana Tourism Development Company (GTDC) has announced a bold new direction aimed at revitalising the country’s tourism sector through innovation and technology.
Speaking at a press briefing to launch the Ghana Hotels Association’s Golden Jubilee celebrations, GTDC Chief Executive Professor Kobby Mensah emphasised the shift from traditional infrastructure to modern digital solutions that will streamline service delivery, increase industry competitiveness, and ensure greater benefits for local businesses within the tourism value chain.
“For too long, we’ve limited infrastructure to just physical buildings, but infrastructure also includes systems and digital support. Technology is the future,” he stated.
Professor Mensah revealed that GTDC is set to introduce a strategic digital platform — the Ghana Tourism Marketplace — that will link local tourism operators directly with international markets and reduce dependence on foreign Online Travel Agencies (OTAs).
He expressed concern over how international OTAs have historically dominated Ghana’s tourism revenues and delayed payments to local stakeholders. “We’ve allowed external OTAs to control our tourism revenue for far too long. That ends now, at least not under my watch at GTDC,” he declared.
To encourage local participation, he assured stakeholders that the Ghana Tourism Marketplace will be developed and maintained at no cost to tourism operators.
Highlighting the critical role of Ghanaian youth in the digital transformation agenda, Professor Mensah praised the contributions of young tech innovators and reaffirmed GTDC’s support for their involvement in the tourism industry.
He called on stakeholders to align with this new vision, saying: “We’re building a robust, strategically driven tourism economy. With a dynamic team behind us, GTDC is committed to ensuring this industry thrives.”