Tourism sector sees strong recovery in Q1 2023 with 45% growth in visitor arrivals
According to inbound travel data from the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), the Ghana recorded an impressive 45% increase in visitor arrivals during the first quarter of 2023. This substantial growth, which saw the country attract 247,834 visitors, represents a remarkable recovery for Ghana’s tourism sector, which was severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. By comparison, the country welcomed just 170,696 visitors in the same period last year and a mere 98,950 in the first quarter of 2021.
Ghana’s tourism officials are optimistic about the country’s prospects for the rest of the year. The GTA and the Ministry of Tourism Arts and Culture are hopeful that Ghana will surpass its target of welcoming 1.2 million international visitors in 2023.
Speaking on these impressive figures, Mr Akwasi Agyeman, CEO of GTA, attributed the growth to key investments and initiatives undertaken by the government. He noted that projects such as the Year of Return, Beyond the Return, Destination Ghana, and others have yielded positive results, positioning Ghana as the ideal destination for diasporans seeking to visit and do business in Africa.
The GTA and the Tourism Ministry have set a revenue target of US$3.4 billion for 2023, an ambitious goal that represents a significant increase from the US$2 billion realized in 2022. To achieve this target, Ghana will need to welcome 1.2 million international visitors, a goal that Mr Agyeman believes is achievable given the current visitor turnout and the rate at which the tourism sector is growing.
In addition to attracting international visitors, the Tourism Ministry is equally focused on increasing domestic arrivals. The Ministry has set a target of 1.2 million domestic visitors for 2023, highlighting the importance of domestic tourism to Ghana’s overall tourism industry.
Ghana’s impressive growth in international arrivals over the past two years, which saw a 46.7% year-on-year increase, is a testament to the country’s resilience and recovery from the pandemic. Indeed, the United Nations World Tourism Organisation’s (UNWTO) report on the topic, ‘Tourism set to return to pre-pandemic levels in some regions’ in 2023, stated that Europe reached nearly 80% of pre-pandemic arrivals and Africa and America reached 65% of pre-pandemic levels. Ghana’s arrivals recovery, which stood at 81%, is significantly higher than the African average and around that of recovery levels of European markets.
Looking ahead, the GTA chief emphasized the importance of tourism data for policy formulation and measuring returns on investment in marketing, promotions, and infrastructure. With ongoing infrastructure works and renovations nearing completion, such as the Kwame Nkrumah Park and Bonwire Kente Museum, and the expected launch of December in GH shortly, operators in the sector are optimistic about the growth and progress of Ghana’s tourism industry.
