According to the latest Ghana Tourism Report released by the Ghana Tourism Authority, last year’s performance has been described as record-breaking since it appears the sector’s progress has returned to pre-pandemic levels.
The country welcomed 1.288 million international visitors in 2024, representing a 12 percent increase from the previous year. Those arrivals generated a staggering US$4.8billion in revenue into the economy, highest in the country’s tourism history.
The impressive growth, according to GTA, was fuelled largely by strong performances from Ghana’s top source markets – the United States, Nigeria and United Kingdom.
Interestingly, Nigeria alone recorded a 25 percent rise in visitors – a clear indication of Ghana’s strengthened appeal within West Africa and the broader diaspora.
In 2023 the country recorded 1.1 million international tourist arrivals, exceeding the 2019 pre-pandemic levels by two percent as domestic tourism experienced a substantial increase of 48.9 percent with 1.4 million domestic tourist visits.
That same year, tourism receipts also saw a rise, increasing from US$2.5billion in 2022 to US$3billion in 2023. Just like the 2024 report, the United States, Nigeria and UK continue to be leading source markets for tourists visiting Ghana as in 2023.
CEO-Ghana Tourism Authority, Maame Efua Houadjeto, observed that tourism continues to serve as a powerful tool for economic transformation, social cohesion and national branding.
“Our goal is not only to attract visitors but also ensure that tourism development benefits local communities and preserves our heritage for generations,” she added.
She pointed to a need for improved infrastructure, expanded digital tools and market diversification to maintain the growth momentum.
Improved infrastructure is crucial as some of the access routes to these varied sites across the country are often in a dilapidated state and need to be upgraded.
Thankfully, the country is also seeing a surge in domestic tourism with a 19% increase in visits to major tourist sites. We believe the Authority can channel some of the windfall into refurbishing and rehabilitating tourist sites as their return on investment is guaranteed.
While interest in Ghana is growing, concerns about the cost of visiting are increasing as well. Thirty-seven percent of tourists rated accommodation as expensive and another 37 percent said visa fees were too high.
