The Ghana Statistical Service (GSS), will in November, this year, conduct the Accommodation Unit Survey (AUS) to gather baseline data to assess the supply and demand for commercial accommodation facilities across the country.
The AUS would utilise a nationally representative sample of commercial accommodation units from the Integrated Business Establishment Survey’s list across all 16 regions of the country.
The AUS formed part of the Tourism Satellite Account Project, which included three other surveys namely; the Domestic and Outbound Tourism Survey, the Ghana International Travellers’ Survey, and the Tourism Supply Establishment Survey.
The GSS, therefore, held a consultative meeting with stakeholders in Tamale to inform them about the benefits of the AUS and to seek their cooperation for successful conduct of the survey.
Participants included representatives from the Ghana Tourism Authority, and some hotel operators in the region.
Professor Kwaku Boakye, Vice-Chancellor, Cape Coast Technical University and Chairman of National Technical Advisory Committee of the Tourism Satellite Account Project, speaking during the meeting, said the initiative was to create a comprehensive understanding of tourism’s contribution to the country’s Gross Domestic Product by the year 2025.
Professor Boakye said whilst the tourism sector had strong potential to become a major driver of the country’s economy, the lack of credible data on the sector hindered effective policy-making hence the efforts.
Dr Ebenezer Kojo Ocran, Coordinator of the AUS said “With a total of 9,602 accommodation units identified, we will sample 1,077 units including large, medium, small-sized, and micro-sized establishments.”
Mr Edward Asuo Afram, Acting Deputy Government Statistician appealed to all stakeholders especially hotel operators and tourism industry players to cooperate with the GSS to undertake the survey emphasising that “Your support is vital for our enumerators to effectively carry out their work.”
Mr Gilbert Dery, Northern Regional Chairman, Ghana Hotels Association lauded the AUS saying “Data is everything. It helps you plan and move forward. This intervention will be a game-changer.”
He assured of the commitment of hotel operators in the region to ensure success of the exercise.
GNA/
