Ghana’s tourism industry is making a remarkable comeback, with international arrivals bringing in a substantial $3.8 billion in revenue by the end of 2023.
This marks a significant increase from the previous year’s $2.5 billion, showing a strong recovery despite the challenges posed by the pandemic.
John Yao Agbeko, Chief Director of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, emphasized the importance of collaboration among stakeholders to establish a conducive regulatory framework that will further enhance growth in the sector. He highlighted Ghana’s potential for continued growth, pointing out the impressive recovery in international arrivals, with 914,882 visitors in 2022 and 1,148,002 in 2023.
The Ministry has pledged to create an enabling environment for the sustainable growth and development of tourism, arts, and culture, which is expected to have a positive impact on Ghana’s economy, given the sector’s significant contribution to the country’s GDP.
Deputy Finance Minister Dr. Stephen Amoah has urged stakeholders in the tourism industry to prioritize domestic tourism as a means to stabilize the depreciating cedi. He stressed the importance of developing home-grown policy tools that address Ghana’s specific needs, encouraging patrons and players in the industry to support local economic growth.
Dr. Amoah emphasized the need for Ghana to build policy tools that are tailored to the country’s unique circumstances, rather than relying on global models.
He called on Ghanaians to show a high level of patronage for local tourism, stating that the country has all the resources necessary to develop the industry, thanks to the natural endowments provided by God.
