Ghana Launches Digital Tourism Management Platform to Streamline Licensing and Compliance
Ghana's tourism sector moved into a new administrative era on 19 May 2026 with the launch of the Ghana Tourism Information System (GTIS), a centralised digital platform that consolidates registration, licensing, inspection, levy payments, and public verification of tourism facilities. Introduced by the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) at an industry engagement in Accra, the system replaces fragmented manual processes and enables operators to manage compliance, submit applications, pay levies, and print licences entirely online. A public-facing verification tool also allows travellers and partners to confirm the authenticity of licensed tourism businesses in real time via mobile or web search.
The platform's introduction comes against a backdrop of significant sector growth: accommodation establishments in Ghana have risen from 540 in 1995 to 5,424 in 2025, while licensed travel trade businesses and restaurants have grown fourfold over the same period. GTA Chief Executive Marilyn Maame Efua Houadjeto said the system directly addresses longstanding issues including fraudulent operators, manual licensing delays, and fragmented data collection, describing it as foundational to positioning tourism as a major pillar of national development. A next phase will introduce electronic licensing and a customer service data module to support real-time sector analysis, policy development, and investment planning. Deputy CEO Ekow Sampson noted that the initiative is "about improving efficiency, transparency, and enabling data-driven decision-making" for regulators and operators alike.
Source: VoyagesAfriq
