Ghana to automate tourism revenue collection starting next year
Tourism Minister Dr. Ibrahim Mohammed Awal has unveiled plans to overhaul revenue collection systems at major tourism sites and attractions within the sector. Starting next year, an automated approach will be introduced to optimize gains and capitalize on investments made in the industry.
Presently, manual methods account for almost 100 percent of revenue collection at tourist attractions. Addressing the media at a recent editors’ forum in Accra, Dr. Awal announced that efforts are underway to transition to fully automated cashless systems for revenue collection at all tourist sites across the nation.
The initial phase of this automation initiative will begin at the recently renovated Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park and the National Museum. This modernized approach is poised to expand nationwide to encompass other attractions. Countries such as Kenya and Tanzania have already implemented successful automated revenue collection systems at tourism sites.
In Tanzania, for instance, payments at tourism attractions are conducted exclusively through designated digital payment methods, virtually eliminating the use of physical cash and deterring potential embezzlement. Dr. Awal is confident that similar strategies will enable Ghana to meet its future tourism revenue targets, following the footsteps of Kenya and Tanzania.
The recent editors’ forum, aside from fostering stronger ties between the ministry and the media, centered on key policies within the tourism sector. Discussions included how to provide optimal support to nurture the industry’s growth.
For the ongoing year, the Ministry of Tourism and the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) are anticipating tourism revenue to reach US$3.4 billion, surpassing the US$2 billion achieved in 2022. The ministry envisions attracting about two million domestic and international arrivals by 2025, generating a corresponding revenue of US$5 billion. To realize this ambition, increased cooperation among private sector players is deemed essential.
Next year’s agenda includes modernization projects at prominent locations such as the Dubois Centre, Osu Castle, Bonwire Kente Museum, Busia Roundabout, Danquah Circle, and the construction of Heroes Park. These initiatives aim to deepen traveler engagement and offer diverse options to tourists. Additionally, the Ministry plans to focus on transforming Ghana into a hub for meetings, incentives, conferences, and events (MICE) in the sub-region.
While the MICE sector holds an estimated value of nearly US$1.5 trillion continent-wide, Ghana is yet to seize its potential. Dr. Awal pledges to engage key stakeholders to leverage the MICE market, utilizing Ghana’s stability and conducive environment to bolster tourism revenue. The Minister remains optimistic about positioning Ghana as a significant player in the global MICE industry.
