Ghana’s tourism sector has shown a remarkable recovery, generating $3.8 billion in international arrivals by the end of 2023, as reported by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture.
This represents a significant increase from the $2.5 billion generated in 2022, demonstrating a strong rebound from the pandemic’s impact.
John Yao Agbeko, Chief Director of the Ministry, stressed the importance of stakeholder collaboration and the establishment of a supportive regulatory framework to sustain and enhance this growth.
Speaking at the GIPC Quarter Two CEOs 2024 Breakfast Meeting in Accra, Agbeko highlighted the potential for continued expansion, noting the impressive recovery in international arrivals—914,882 in 2022 and 1,148,002 in 2023—which translated into substantial financial receipts.
The Ministry is committed to fostering an enabling environment for the sustainable growth and development of tourism, arts, and culture, aiming to significantly contribute to Ghana’s GDP through strategic policies, plans, and projects. This commitment is expected to have a positive impact on the national economy, underscoring the sector’s crucial role.
“In Africa, the tourism industry showed considerable strength in coping with 75% of each pandemic receipt. Ghana, however, recovered a total international arrival of nine hundred and fourteen thousand, eight hundred and eighty-two in 2022 and One million, one hundred and forty-eight thousand and two in 2023 giving a receipt of $2.5 billion and $3.8 billion respectively.”
“These are just the international arrivals. The Ministry of Tourism exists to create a conducive environment for sustainable growth and development of Tourism, Arts, and Culture to contribute enormously to GDP through effective and efficient use of appropriate policies, plans, programmes and projects.”
Deputy Finance Minister, Dr. Stephen Amoah, also urged stakeholders to prioritize domestic tourism to help stabilize the cedi. He emphasized the need for home-grown policy tools that address Ghana’s specific needs, encouraging support for local economic growth.
“One thing I’ve seen about Africa is that we have a lot of ideas but sometimes the global modules control us too much. We need to build home-grown policy tools that specifically address our needs.
“Let’s begin to show the high level of patronage and keep the money here. I think as a country we have everything at our disposal to develop tourism because God has endowed us.”
