Ghana’s tourism industry recorded growth in both international and domestic visitor numbers in 2025, with the sector generating US$4.34 billion in revenue from tourist arrivals, Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, has disclosed.
The Minister made this known while presenting an account of her ministry’s performance under the Government Accountability Series, outlining developments in tourism, cultural preservation and the creative arts.
According to Ms. Gomashie, international tourist arrivals increased from 1,288,804 in 2024 to 1,306,962 in 2025, indicating a continued rise in the number of international visitors choosing Ghana as a destination.
Domestic tourism also recorded positive growth during the same period.
She said visits to tourist attractions by domestic travellers increased by seven per cent, rising from approximately 1.68 million in 2024 to 1.79 million in 2025.
The Minister noted that the increase in visitor numbers was accompanied by substantial economic activity, with tourism revenue from arrivals reaching US$4.34 billion during the 2025 calendar year.
Ms. Gomashie said a relatively small group of major attractions continued to account for a significant share of domestic tourism activity across the country.
The 10 most visited tourist attractions collectively attracted 1,377,588 visitors in 2025, representing about 77 per cent of all domestic tourism site visits.
The attractions are the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park, Kakum National Park, Bonsu Arboretum/Eco Park, Cape Coast Castle, Manhyia Palace, Kumasi Zoo, Accra Zoo, Elmina Castle, Shai Hills Resource Reserve and Aburi Botanical Gardens.
The figures highlight the importance of Ghana’s historical landmarks, wildlife sites, botanical attractions and cultural heritage locations to the development of domestic tourism.
They also point to the potential for further investment in less patronised tourist sites as part of efforts to spread tourism activity across different parts of the country.
The Minister also highlighted interventions undertaken to preserve and improve some of Ghana’s important tourism and heritage assets.
One of the developments cited was the reopening of the Nationalism Park after the resolution of longstanding power-related challenges that had affected its operations.
The Ministry also completed the Tano Boase Sacred Grove Project as part of efforts to protect and develop sites with significant cultural and environmental value.
Ms. Gomashie further disclosed that the government had taken steps to strengthen governance and management arrangements at selected heritage locations.
Among the sites mentioned were the Anomabu Garden of Return and the Tetteh Quarshie Cocoa Farm.
The measures, she explained, are intended to improve the management of Ghana’s tourism resources while ensuring that important heritage sites remain viable attractions for both local and international visitors.
In an effort to broaden Ghana’s tourism offerings beyond conventional daytime activities, the Ministry has launched a new tourism product known as “Accra by Night.”
The initiative forms part of the government’s broader 24-Hour Economy agenda and is designed to create a structured tourism experience around activities taking place in the capital during the evening and night.
The Minister said the initiative would not only provide visitors with additional experiences but also create opportunities for businesses operating within the tourism and creative economy.
Restaurants, artists, transport operators and small businesses are among the groups expected to benefit from increased economic activity associated with night tourism.
The initiative is also expected to help diversify the tourism value chain by encouraging visitors to spend more time and money within the local economy.
On cultural development, Ms. Gomashie announced plans to introduce standardised orthographies for three additional Ghanaian languages before the end of 2026.
She said the initiative is consistent with President John Dramani Mahama’s vision and commitments contained in the government’s manifesto to promote Ghana’s indigenous languages and cultural heritage.
Standardised orthographies are expected to provide a stronger foundation for the documentation, teaching and wider use of Ghanaian languages, particularly in formal education and cultural preservation.
The initiative forms part of the Ministry’s broader cultural development agenda aimed at ensuring that Ghana’s indigenous identity and heritage remain relevant amid changing social and economic conditions.
The Minister’s presentation underscores the government’s efforts to position tourism, culture and the creative arts as important contributors to economic growth.
The increase in international arrivals, expansion in domestic tourism and US$4.34 billion in tourism revenue provide an indication of the sector’s economic significance.
At the same time, interventions targeting heritage sites, new tourism products such as “Accra by Night” and the promotion of indigenous languages point to a broader strategy of combining tourism development with cultural preservation and job creation.
The initiatives are also expected to create opportunities for businesses and professionals operating across the tourism and creative sectors while encouraging greater participation by Ghanaians in domestic tourism.
The presentation formed part of the Government Accountability Series, through which ministers are providing updates on policies, programmes, achievements and ongoing interventions to promote transparency and public accountability.
For the Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts Ministry, the focus remains on building a more diversified tourism industry, protecting Ghana’s cultural heritage and expanding the economic opportunities available within the tourism and creative economy.
By 1960news.com
