Despite efforts to promote African Continental Free Trade Area, AfCFTA, hotel accommodation, classification and grading in the West African region still depend on the discretion or guiding policies of the different member states.
Based on this, ECOWAS Commission convened a meeting for ministers of national tourism sectors at Togo to give tourism in the region a boost with the validation and adoption of the regulatory texts of the Tourist Accommodation Establishment in the region.
A working document with recommendations was presented to ministers in charge of national tourism sectors in ECOWAS member states by tourism experts, who spent three days drafting a well-researched legal framework that covers all aspects of hotel accommodation classification and grading.
In a welcome address, on behalf of the president of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, the commission’s Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture, Mrs. Massandjé Toure-Litse, said ECOWAS is taking key steps towards adopting relevant instruments to boosting the region’s tourism sector in line with emerging trends and appreciated the ministers for accepting to be part of a historic event.
According to Dr. Touray, the tenacity and commitment of member states in the development of tourism industry will make ECOWAS a tourist hub, a destination with attractive and quality services which can compete with tourist destinations around the world especially with AfCFTA which provides diverse opportunities in development, job creations, economic growth and boost regional integration.
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