Mr Robert Thompson, General Manager, The Peninsula Resort and Golf Club, in Akosombo, Ghana, has urged African governments to address problem of multiple taxation confronting hospitality industry across the continent.
Thompson said this during the familiarization tour of the resort by international tourists in Ghana.
The tour is in commemoration of the ongoing sixth Accra Weizo West Africa Travel and Tourism Market, in Ghana, organized by Mr Ikechi Uko.
According to him, multiple taxation is affecting operations of most hotels in Africa and the sector requires support of government to break even.
He said the hospitality industry is an emerging industry capable of creating huge employment opportunities for the youth.
He noted that it was high time hotel businesses were taken seriously as government streamlines the existing taxes into one.
“Taxes are too many for us in hotels, we talk about the tax on water supply, electricity, security, social and more.
“Though we are trying our best because we know that government needs these taxes to also develop our countries, but on our path, we need the money to expand our businesses and create employments,” he said.
The general manager advised tourists to always explore hiking as form of exercising in their quest to unwind.
According to him, hiking is therapeutic for individuals as it strengthens human bones, joints and muscles.
He said hiking was also observed to relief stress, anxiety and other mood disorders, as well as improve memory retention and mental ability.
”I discovered people visit our resort and don’t bother to exercise, hiking is a way to exercise the body, it is therapeutic.
”Hiking helps in absorption of Vitamin D, which helps boost energy levels. It also helps to burn calories and in weight loss,” he said.
According to Thompson, the Peninsula Resort sits on a 300-acre of land, endowed with a lake, serene atmosphere, hills, and hiking capacity of two kilometers, among others.
He said the longest canopy walkway in West Africa is also located at the resort which is about 550 meters long.
He added that the management of the resort was planning to upgrade its facilities by constructing apartments for long and short stay accommodation, to make it a one-stop resort.
According to him, other attractive activities that can be enjoyed by tourists at the resort include archery, swimming, horse riding, lawn and table tennis, golf and boat cruise.
”We also plan to engage in some corporate social responsibility like providing schools and clinic for the surrounding communities of Jigiti, Idumase, Sapo and more.
”About 80 per cent of our staff are from these communities, so we want to be able to attend to their medical needs as a way to give back to the society,” he said.
