Ghana earned GH¢15.4bn international visitors in 2023— GSS survey

Ghana one of the top tourist destinations in Africa earned more than GH¢15.42 billion in 2025 as tourism related earnings. This inflow is attributed to 901,000 international visitors between October 2022 and September 2023. The GH¢15.42 billion according to the  Ghana Statistical Service’s (GSS) make us the spending injecting an estimated GH¢15.42 billion into the economy.

The figures  from are based on the (GSS) first-ever Ghana International Travellers’ Survey (GITS), which sets a baseline for measuring tourism’s impact on the national economy.

The survey made a key distinction between overnight and same-day visitors. Out of the total, 888,584 were overnight guests, who contributed a massive GH¢15.18 billion. Same-day visitors numbered just 12,864, but still added about GH¢24 million; a segment the report said had been largely ignored until now.

Dr. Alhassan Iddrisu, Government Statistician, stressed the significance of the findings. “Tourism is one of Ghana’s most dynamic sectors, with the power to create jobs, drive regional integration, and showcase our rich cultural heritage,” he wrote.

He added that the economic footprint of same-day visitors was “striking” and deserved closer attention.

The survey also revealed who these visitors are and why they came. Men consistently outnumbered women across age groups, with adults aged 36–64 making up the largest share.

For overnight travellers, “visiting friends and relatives was the main purpose of travel… in all quarters, except for Q4 2022, where Business and Professional travel dominated, accounting for 46.9 percent.” Same-day visitors were often in transit, especially toward the end of the survey period.

Tourist attractions varied by visitor type. Same-day travellers favoured the Bisa Abrewa Museum, Cape Coast Castle, the National Museum, and the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park. Overnight visitors were drawn more to Independence Square & Arts Center, Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park, and Cape Coast Castle.

Regionally, the survey found West Africans dominated Ghana’s tourism scene, with Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria, and Liberia topping the list for same-day trips.

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The GSS report wrapped up with policy recommendations, including a “Visit Ghana in a Day” campaign targeting regional travelers, and more investment in border facilities to improve visitor experiences.

GSS believes GITS will form the backbone of Ghana’s first Tourism Satellite Account (TSA), designed to track tourism’s exact contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).