REPUBLIC OF GHANA UNWTO Regional Conference Enhancing Brand Africa, Fostering Tourism Development Accra, Ghana 17-19 August 2015 Madrid, April 2015 Original: English GENERAL INFORMATION NOTE 1. The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts of Ghana are organizing jointly the UNWTO Regional Seminar on UNWTO Regional Conference on Enhancing Brand Africa, Fostering Tourism Development, to take place in Accra, Ghana, from 17 to 19 August 2015 at the kind invitation of the Government of Ghana. The regional seminar is open to the participation of Member States, affiliate members, invited delegations, as well as to representatives of the tourism and the media related to tourism. I. VENUE OF THE CONFERENCE 2. The regional conference will be held at: La Palm Royal Beach Hotel Address: P.O Box OS 3000, Accra, Ghana Tel.: (+233) 302-215100/ 21 51 11 Fax: (+233) 302-215121/ 215122 E-mail: lapalmres@gbhghana.net groupsales@gbhghana.net II. REPLIES TO INVITATIONS 3. Governments and other bodies invited by UNWTO and the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts of Ghana are requested to send their replies to the following addresses at the latest on 14 August 2015, indicating as much as possible, the composition of their delegations: Please recycle
Ms Elcia Grandcourt Programme Director Regional Programme Africa World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Capitán Haya 42, 28020, Madrid Spain Tel.: (+34 91) 5678152 Fax: (+34 91) 571 37 33 E-mail: caf@unwto.org (1) Mr. Humphrey Kuma Director Policy, Planning, Monitoring & Evaluation Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts P.O. Box GP 4386 ACCRA Tel.: (+233) 243-704113 Fax: (+233) 302-666182 Email: humphrey.kuma@gmail.com (2) Mr. Geoffrey Tamakloe Principal Tourism Officer Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts P.O. Box GP 4386 ACCRA Tel.: (+233) 233-296120 Fax: (+233) 302-666182 Email: geoffreytamakloe@gmail.com III. STATUS OF PARTICIPANTS 4. The Government of Ghana will take the necessary steps to facilitate the arrival and departure of participants invited by the Organization, as well as their stay in the Republic of Ghana. Throughout their stay, participants will enjoy the privileges and immunities provided for in the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations of 13 February 1946. IV. ENTRY FORMALITIES 5. A valid passport is required for visitors to Ghana. Entry visas may be obtained at Ghana s diplomatic and consular representations abroad. 6. Participants travelling from countries, in which Ghana does not have a diplomatic mission, can obtain a visa upon arrival at the airport in Accra. Prior information on such participants- their Passport Numbers and Bio Data should be scanned and forwarded to the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts of Ghana, for processing and clearance of Ghana Immigration Service. 7. However, visas are not required for participants who are citizens of Economic Community of West African States ( ECOWAS) and the following countries; Malawi, Zimbabwe, Swaziland, Lesotho, Tanzania, Botswana, Uganda, Kenya, Egypt, Trinidad and Tobago, and Singapore. 2
V. SPECIAL OFFER BY ETHIOPIAN AIRLINES ON AIRFARES TO ACCRA 8. Ethiopian Airlines (ET) is pleased to be recognized as the partner airline carrier for the UNWTO Regional Conference on Enhancing Brand Africa- Fostering Tourism Development, to be held in Accra, Ghana from August 17-19, 2015. As part of the partnership entered with The World Tourism Organization, we are glad to offer 12% discount on Business class and 10% discount on Economy class fares to all participants departing from any of our online cities to Accra. Delegates are invited to make travel arrangements to the event by contacting our local sales offices. To find out our office in your nearest area, please email us on conventions@ethiopianairlines.com; ahmeda@ethiopianairlines.com. Kindly take note of the following sales and travel restrictions for the event: Delegates may purchase their flight ticket until Monday, August 17, 2015. Delegates are expected/ allowed to travel to Accra from Wednesday, August 05 up to 19, 2015. Delegates are allowed to return to their destination from Monday, August 17 up to 31, 2015. VI. TRANSPORT 9. The Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts of Ghana will arrange free transport for all participants upon arrival, and departure from the airport, as well as return transport between their hotels and the meeting place. All participants are therefore, requested to register on-line at the following link giving details of their arrival and departure: http://africa.unwto.org/webform/unwto-regional-conferenceenhancing-brand-africa VII. AIRPORT TAXES 10. No Airport taxes are charged. VIII. RECEPTION AT THE AIRPORT 11. A reception and information desk will be open for delegates at the international airport of Accra from 15 August to 22 August, 2015. 3
XI. ACCOMMODATION 12. The delegates are requested to make their own arrangements by contacting their chosen hotel through the phone and fax numbers and the email addresses, and to make their reservations according to the hotels listed below. Delegates may communicate information of hotel of their choice to the Ghanaian Ministry Officials for follow ups. They should specify that they will be attending the UNWTO Regional Conference on Enhancing Brand Africa, Fostering Tourism Development, to take place in Accra, Ghana, from 17 to 19 August 2015. 13. List of Hotels proposed by the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative of Arts of Ghana: Hotels standard Price in US dollars (VAT included ) Rooms Suites Information Tel / Fax / Mail Distance from the venue of the regional Conference La Palm Royal Beach Hotel, La Lux 4 Star Hotel Best Western Premier Accra Airport Hotel 4 Star Hotel African Sun Amber Hotel Airport City 3- Star Hotel USD ( $)215 USD ( $)160 USD ( $)180 USD($) 431 / 471 USD ($) 385 / 425 USD ( $) 400 Tel.: 233-302-215111 Fax:233-302-215122 Email: lapalmreservations@gbhghana.net lapalmres@gbhghana.net Tel. 233(0 ) 302-216570 / 216574 Fax: 233(0)302-766905 E-mail: reservations@bestwesternpremier.com.g h Tel : 233-302-742 747 Email : salesmanager@aha.africansunhotels.com reservations@aha.africansunhotels.com Venue of the regional conference 7km 7km Alisa Hotel, Ridge 3 Star Hotel USD ( $)155 USD( $) 389 Tel : 233-302-214233 / 214244 Email : info@alisahotels.com s-oseimensah@alisahotel.com northridge@alisahotels.com 5km 4
Coconut Grove Regency Hotel 3 Star Hotel USD($)130 USD($)217 Tel: 233-302-226310/225155 Fax: 233-302-230140 E-mail ; roberta.torkorno@coconutgrovehotelsghana.c om 5km Central Hotel, 2-Star Hotel USD($)70 USD($)150 Tel: 233-302-258257 E mail: centralhotelltd@yahoo.co.uk 5km X. HEALTH REQUIREMENTS 14. A yellow fewer certificate is required upon arrival. XI. REGISTRATION AND ACCREDITATION 15. At the place of the meetings, a registration desk will be open one day before the start of the proceedings. Badges will be issued at the time of registration. XII. WORKING LANGUAGES 16. The working language of the regional conference will be English. The documents will be prepared in English. Simultaneous interpretation will be provided in English and French. XIII. SOCIAL PROGRAMME 17. - Welcome Cocktail on 17 th August, 2015 at the La Palm Royal Beach Hotel at 18:00. - Technical Tour to Tourist Sites in the Central Region on the 19 th August, 2015. XIV. CURRENCY REGULATIONS 18. The local currency of Ghana is the Ghana New Cedi. The current rate of exchange on the Ghana Cedi of the Euro and the US Dollar($) is as follows: 1 Euro = 4.0774 Ghana Cedi (GHS) 1 US Dollar($) = 3.8450 Ghana Cedi (GHS) As at 15th April, 2015 5
XV. CLIMATE 19. The average temperature in Ghana in the month of August ranges from 21 to 24 degrees Celsius. XVI. LOCAL TIME 20. The local time in Ghana is the same with Greenwich Meantime (GMT + 0:00). XVII. BUSINESS & SHOPPING HOURS 21. Banks are open from 08:30-16.00. 22. Shops are open from 08:00 17:00 XVIII. INFORMATION ON THE WEB SITE 23. For further information on the regional conference, please refer to the UNWTO website: http://africa.unwto.org 6