The Royal Senchi Hotel and Resort at Atimpoku has been crowned the best tourist facility in the Eastern Region.
The riverside resort took the top prize at this year's Eastern Regional Tourism Awards, organised by the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) in Koforidua under the theme "Celebrating Excellence Beyond Borders – The Black Star Experience," Graphic Online reported on October 15.
In all, 30 institutions and individuals were recognised, with 21 competitive awards and nine honorary awards handed out for contributions to tourism over the past year.
The winners' list
Royal Senchi led the 4-star category, followed by Peduase Valley Resort at Aburi and Safari Valley Resort at Dawu, near Akropong-Akuapem.
In the 3-star category, Capital View Hotel in Koforidua came first, with Volta Hotel in Akosombo second and Eastern Premier Hotel, also in Koforidua, third. Winners received plaques and citations.
Other businesses honoured included Linda Dor Restaurant's Koforidua and Bunso outlets, Freedom Hills Hotel at Kwahu-Nkwatia, Peduase Chop House and Chicken Man/Pizza Man in Koforidua, while individuals were cited for work in MICE tourism, hospitality investment and culture advocacy.
Quality over numbers
Reading a speech for GTA Chief Executive Maame Efua Houadjeto, the authority's Human Resource Director, Dinah Owusu, said domestic tourism keeps showing promise, with more than 1.79 million visits recorded at 55 tourist sites across the country in 2025.
She said licensed tourism enterprises grew from 6,702 in 2024 to 7,109 in 2025, a 6.1 per cent rise, while the travel trade sector expanded by 18.6 per cent. But growth in numbers is not enough, she cautioned: Ghana must match it with quality, professionalism, innovation, safety and excellent customer service.
GTA Eastern Regional Director Jones Aruna Nelson described the region as a gateway to the rest of the country, pointing to attractions such as the Kwahu Ridge, Aburi Botanical Gardens, the Volta River, Bunso Eco-Tourism Park, Atiwa Forest, the Big Tree and Boti Falls.
For travellers planning a weekend out of Accra this season, the list doubles as a ready-made shortlist, from Senchi's riverfront to the hills of Aburi.
