Ghana reintroduces Visa-On-Arrival policy for festive season tourism boost
In a strategic move aimed at bolstering tourism and fostering cultural connections, Ghana’s Transport Ministry has declared the reinstatement of the visa-on-arrival facility for incoming passengers during the festive season.
This decision, revealed in a missive to all airlines, is scheduled to be effective from December 1 to January 14, aligning with the holiday period.
The move involves collaboration between the Transport Ministry and key stakeholders, including the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Interior, Tourism, as well as the Ghana Immigration Service and the Ghana Tourism Authority.
According to the Transport Minister, Kwaku Ofori Asiamah, this initiative seeks to support the government’s ambitious decade-long venture, “Beyond The Return,” designed to encourage the African diaspora to reconnect with their ancestral roots.
The minister’s directive, as outlined in the statement, emphasizes the importance of updating systems to accommodate this revised protocol. Airlines have been urged to communicate the new arrangement to check-in personnel, advising them not to insist on entry visas before passengers’ boarding.
This marks a second iteration of the visa-on-arrival policy, initially introduced last year during the festive season, where Ghana experienced a notable surge in global tourist arrivals.
The decision underscores the government’s commitment to leveraging tourism as a strategic economic driver, emphasizing accessibility for visitors and fostering cultural exchange.
As Ghana opens its doors once again through this timely initiative, industry observers anticipate a positive impact on the nation’s tourism landscape, echoing the success observed during the previous implementation of the visa-on-arrival policy.
