Finance Minister Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam announced a significant increase in Ghana’s tourism revenue, with the country generating approximately $1.8 billion in the first half of 2024. This represents a notable rise from the $1.5 billion recorded during the same period in 2023.
This growth in the tourism sector is part of a broader strategy to position Ghana as a premier destination for international tourists, leveraging its rich cultural heritage and historical sites.
The government’s efforts to improve infrastructure and marketing are aimed at sustaining this upward trend, ensuring long-term benefits for the economy and local communities.
While delivering the 2024 mid-year budget review in Parliament, Dr. Adam highlighted the increase in tourist arrivals, which have grown from about 500,000 in 2023 to nearly 600,000 in the first half of 2024.
“Mr. Speaker, Ghana is being positioned as an internationally competitive tourism destination. Tourist arrivals have increased from about 500,000 in 2023 to almost 600,000 in the first half of 2024, increasing receipts to about $1.8 billion compared to $1.5 billion over the same period last year,” he stated.
To support this progress, the government has enhanced tourism infrastructure, marketing, and supply-chain links through the redevelopment of key tourist sites such as Aburi Gardens, Yaa Asantewaa Mausoleum, the museum at Ejisu, and the Pikworo Slave Camp. Dr. Adam emphasized the government’s commitment to further enhancing the tourism sector through these redevelopment efforts.
In 2022, the country’s tourism receipts rose from $2.51 billion to $3 billion last year, surpassing the pre-COVID-19 record of $3.31 billion.
The all-time high receipts from last year were accrued from 1.148 million tourists, marking a substantial increase over the pre-COVID-19 turnover of 1.13 million visitors, primarily due to the Year of Return initiative.
The number of tourists in 2023 was 25% more than the 914,892 recorded in 2022, while the receipts represented a 51.9% increase over the previous year.
Additionally, the average tourist expenditure in 2023 rose to $3,746.65, up from $2,931 in 2019.
In 2019, international arrivals stood at 1,130,307, but 2020 saw a sharp decline of 69% due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
There was a remarkable rebound in the third and fourth quarters of 2021, leading to a 76% surge in total arrivals during that period.
The generating markets of December in Ghana (DiGH) participants saw the highest total arrivals of 125,461, 7.7% more than the pre-pandemic arrivals of December 2019.
In terms of accommodation, hotel stays declined slightly by three to five percent, while Airbnb usage surged from 11.5% in 2021 to 27% in 2023.
Participants stayed an average of 17 nights, with males staying slightly longer at 17 days compared to females at 16 days.
