A survey has revealed that Ghana welcomed a total of 901,448 international visitors who spent an estimated GH¢15.42 billion between October 2022 and September 2023.
The figures, released by the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) in its first-ever Ghana International Travellers’ Survey (GITS), provide a baseline to measure the economic impact of tourism on the national economy.
The survey, which distinguishes between same-day and overnight visitors, found that the vast majority, 888,584, were overnight guests. These longer-stay visitors were the primary drivers of tourism expenditure, contributing GH¢15.18 billion. The remaining 12,864 same-day visitors spent approximately GH¢24 million, highlighting a previously unmeasured segment of the tourism market.
Dr. Alhassan Iddrisu, the Government Statistician, stated in the report’s preface that the findings are crucial for evidence-based policymaking. “Tourism is one of Ghana’s most dynamic sectors, with the power to create jobs, drive regional integration, and showcase our rich cultural heritage,” he wrote. He emphasised that the role of same-day visitors has been historically overlooked, noting, “Their economic footprint is striking.”
The profile of visitors showed distinct patterns. Males consistently outnumbered females across all age groups, with adults aged 36-64 forming the largest cohort. For overnight visitors, “Visiting friends and relatives was the main purpose of travel… in all quarters, except for Q4 2022, where Business and Professional travel dominated, accounting for 46.9 percent.” In contrast, a higher proportion of same-day visitors were in transit, particularly in the latter part of the survey period.
The survey also pinpointed the most popular tourist attractions. For same-day visitors, key sites included the Bisa Abrewa Museum, Cape Coast Castle, the National Museum, and the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park. Overnight visitors frequented Independence Square & Arts Center, the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park, and Cape Coast Castle.
Regionally, visitors from West Africa dominated, with Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria, and Liberia being the top source countries for same-day trips. The report concludes with targeted policy recommendations, including a proposed “Visit Ghana in a Day” campaign to attract short-haul regional visitors and investments in border facilities to enhance the visitor experience. The GITS is a cornerstone for developing Ghana’s first Tourism Satellite Account (TSA), which will formally quantify the sector’s contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).