THE GHANA TOURISM CLUSTER PROJECT

The Ghana Tourism Cluster project is an initiative of AMSCO (African Management Services Company) and is aimed at encouraging Stakeholders in the tourism industry to network and help promote efficiency and professionalism in the industry.
AMSCO was established in 1989 as a joint initiative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the African Development Bank (ADB), and the International Finance Corporation (IFC). Other shareholders include a number of development banks and over 50 prominent international companies.

AMSCO's mission is to assist small and medium-sized private companies with substantial African ownership to become more sustainable and competitive in national, and where possible, international markets. The Regional Office of AMSCO Anglophone West Africa has identified many constraints in the Ghana Tourist industry and has designed the Tourism Cluster as a way out. The Cluster idea simply gives the opportunity to all stakeholders in the tourist industry to network, work in sub-clusters, reduce costs, improve efficiency and advance tourism in Ghana.
It is intended to form a GHANA TOURISM CLUSTER FORUM modeled on private sector clusters such as in Ireland, South Africa, Mauritius, and the Gambia, to propel the private sector and enable it to play a more active role in the development and advancement of tourism. Stakeholders who join the Organization will be entitled to, among others:

• Free space on the Ghanatourismcluster.com Website.
• Training programmes to upgrade the skills of local workforce and attain operational efficiency.
• Opportunities to enter the international market.
• A network of operators throughout the world.
• Technical Assistance.
• Course materials for download from Amsco Ghana Intranet.
• Newsletters with latest trends in the industry
• Workshops / Seminar / Lectures.

Membership
Cluster Website Membership will consist of an initial sign-up fee, which is dependent on the type of service required and includes the first year's administration. Thereafter, there is an annual administration fee, also dependent on the service required. All Service options are scaled according to cutoff date for founding members, which is the 31st April, 2003.

Webpage Option

The Webpage option includes two webpages per member, detailing their service offering and related pricing as well as a booking form which will e-mail all potential guest details to the administrator. The administrator will forward the potential booking / contact / enquiry details on to the cluster member via e-mail (automatic).

Link Option

The Link Option includes a link to the cluster member's own website instead of a complete webpage. Service offerings and related pricing will then be found on the cluster member's website. Bookings administration is still offered however.
Option B1 and D1 consist of a link resident on Cluster Website only. This will automatically direct the potential guest / user to the cluster member's own website, where booking / enquiries will be administered independently
Remaining link options depend on the type of service required should the cluster member not have booking administration / e-mail on their own site. If e-mail is not available, the administrator will inform the cluster member of potential booking / contact / enquire details via phone or fax (manual).