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Inbound tourists to Ghana are reported to have spent some USD 3.8 billion in 2023. Tourism and hospitality players have been encouraged to make the sector more attractive and promote it as a go-to destination for domestic and intra-African leisure and business activities.
This would be a game changer in terms of generating domestic revenue, promoting economic growth and stability, creating more job opportunities for youths, and strengthening the cedi and other African currencies.
These statistics were released at the second quarter meeting of the CEOs forum held at Accra by the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) on the theme: “Regulatory framework for tourism infrastructure and its growth.” The call comes at a time when Ghana and many other African countries have been excluded from accessing the international credit market, necessitating the exploration of domestic financing options. The forum emphasised the sector’s potential to generate revenue and help strengthen local currencies, create more jobs, boost cultural exchanges, and preserve national heritage.
According to the World Tourism Organisation, international tourism receipts reached USD 1 trillion in 2022 due to a rebound in travels, marking a 50 per cent increase in real terms from 2021.Africa regained 75 per cent of its pre-pandemic revenues, and in Ghana, inbound visitors spending totalled $2.5 billion, with around 914,892 international arrivals in 2022.In 2023, the expenditure by inbound visitors increased to $3.8 billion, while arrivals reached 1,148,002.
The demands of the times necessitated that countries look inward for finance, including prioritising the tourism and hospitality sectors. Ghana needs to build homegrown policy tools that specifically address the country’s needs, stated Ghana’s Deputy Minister of Finance Dr Stephen Amoah. Dr. Amoah advocated for an increase in local patronage, stating, that the country must work to make tourism a key element of economic growth and stability.He advised the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) to create programmes to allow workers from various Ministries, Agencies, and Departments (MDAs) to explore the country’s attractions.
Yoofi Grant, CEO of GIPC, applauded industry players for their contributions to reinvigorating the sector through events such as the ‘Year of Return and Beyond the Return’. He called for support and attitudinal change to boost the patronage of domestic tourism.
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Andrew Egyapa Mercer, Minister of Tourism Designate reiterated that the development of hotels, resorts, transportation networks, and recreational facilities had a significant impact on the tourism environment. He did, however, acknowledge that a strong regulatory framework was essential for creating local employment, supporting small businesses, preserving cultural heritage, and alleviating poverty.
