In a renewed effort to strengthen professionalism and operational excellence among tour operators in Ghana, the Tour Operators Union of Ghana (TOUGHA) has successfully held a one-day capacity-building workshop focused on costing and itinerary building, two vital pillars of tourism business success.
The intensive training, held at the Accra Tourist Information Centrw, brought together TOUGHA members for a refresher session that offered both practical insight and peer-to-peer learning. The workshop featured two leading figures in Ghana’s tourism sector — Mr. Cosmos Ata Sracooh, who led the session on costing, and Mr. Kwaku Passah Snr, who facilitated the module on itinerary development.
Addressing participants at the start of the training, TOUGHA President, Yvonne Donkor, underscored the strategic importance of the training.
“It is both an honour and a pleasure to warmly welcome each one of you to today’s important training session focused on a core aspect of our work — the creation of engaging and well-structured tour itineraries and costing.”
She reminded participants that while the art of designing a memorable tour itinerary is essential, the science of accurate costing is what ensures sustainability.
“Crafting a well-thought-out tour itinerary is both an art and a science. It requires deep knowledge of destinations, creativity, logistical planning, and above all, an understanding of what excites and inspires travellers,” she explained.
“But an itinerary, no matter how compelling, must also be backed by accurate and competitive costing. Without proper costing, even the best ideas can become unsustainable — or worse, unprofitable.”
The TOUGHA President highlighted that the unique strength of this particular training lay in the calibre and experience of its facilitators.
“What makes today’s session particularly unique is that our facilitators are not consultants or trainers from outside the industry — they are seasoned professionals from within our industry,” she said.
“These are colleagues who have built strong reputations through hands-on experience, innovation and consistency in delivering excellent tour experiences both locally and internationally. Their willingness to share knowledge reflects the spirit of unity, collaboration and capacity-building that TOUGHA stands for.”
During his session on costing, Mr. Cosmos Ata Sracooh walked participants through best practices in pricing tours that are both attractive to clients and financially viable. He emphasized the importance of factoring in hidden costs, maintaining competitive margins, and understanding global pricing trends in a post-COVID travel landscape.
Mr. Kwaku Passah Snr’s itinerary building module challenged participants to think beyond routine tour structures and explore innovative, themed and personalised tour packages. He urged operators to adopt a client-centric approach that aligns with market expectations while showcasing Ghana’s unique cultural and ecological diversity.
Throughout the training, participants were given the opportunity to make contributions, ask questions, and exchange ideas with their peers — creating an atmosphere of collaboration and shared growth.
Encouraging full participation, Ms. Donkor called on members to treat the session not just as a workshop but a platform for professional transformation:
“I encourage all of us to be open, ask questions, share ideas and actively participate. Let us use this platform to sharpen our skills, exchange perspectives and leave here better equipped to design itineraries that are not only practical and marketable but also memorable and transformative for our clients.”
The workshop aligns with TOUGHA’s broader mandate to build capacity among its members, improve industry standards and promote Ghana as a premier destination for cultural, historical, leisure and eco-tourism.
Also present at the training was Professor Kobby Mensah, CEO of the Ghana Tourism Development Company who in a brief remark, commended the leadership of TOUGHA for the training and opened up initiatives and innovations his outfit was pursuing to further enhance Ghana’s tourism industry; including soon-to-be-launched, Ghana Tourism Marketplace and the Ghana Tourism Investment Platform.