Ghana welcomed more than 1.3 million international tourists in 2025, generating an estimated US$4.34 billion in revenue as the country’s tourism sector recorded growth in both international arrivals and domestic travel.
Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, disclosed that international tourist arrivals reached 1,306,962 in 2025, up from 1,288,804 recorded in 2024.
Domestic tourism also maintained its upward trajectory, with visits increasing from 1.68 million in 2024 to 1.79 million in 2025, representing growth of about seven per cent.
Madam Gomashie disclosed the figures when she took her turn at the Government Accountability Press Conference Series at the Presidency in Accra.
The engagement provided the Minister with an opportunity to account for the performance of the tourism, culture and creative arts sector and outline its contribution to employment, economic growth and Ghana’s national identity.
“In the period since I took office as Minister and now, significant progress has been made in the sector and I am happy to account to the good people of Ghana as follows,” she stated.
Top Tourist Attractions Draw 1.37m Visitors
According to the Minister, Ghana’s 10 most visited tourist attractions recorded a combined 1,377,588 visitors in 2025, accounting for nearly 77 per cent of visits to domestic tourism sites nationwide.
The leading attractions were the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park, Kakum National Park, Bunso Arboretum/Eco Park, Cape Coast Castle, Manhyia Palace, Kumasi Zoo, Accra Zoo, Elmina Castle, Shai Hills Resource Reserve and Aburi Botanical Gardens.
The figures underscore the continued importance of Ghana’s historical, cultural and ecological attractions to the growth of domestic tourism.
Licensed Tourism Businesses Rise to 7,109
Madam Gomashie also reported growth in the number of licensed tourism enterprises, which increased from 6,702 in 2024 to 7,109 in 2025, representing a 6.1 per cent increase.
Travel trade enterprises recorded an even stronger expansion of 18.6 per cent.
According to the Minister, the growth reflects an expanding ecosystem of tour operators, travel agencies, destination service providers, excursion businesses and other tourism intermediaries, with potential benefits for employment and entrepreneurship.
She also disclosed that star-rated hotels employed an average workforce of 101 people per establishment.
This comprised an average of 80 full-time employees 39 males and 41 females and 21 temporary employees, consisting of 12 males and nine females.
Tourism Driving Jobs and Economic Activity
Madam Gomashie said tourism, culture and the creative arts remain important contributors to Ghana’s economy through employment creation, income generation and the promotion of the country internationally.
She noted that attractions such as Cape Coast and Elmina castles, national parks, beaches and festivals continue to attract visitors, generate foreign exchange and support businesses across the hospitality, transportation and food-service industries.
The creative economy, she added, also provides livelihoods for artists, filmmakers, musicians, fashion designers, performers, craftspeople and other professionals.
Madam Gomashie highlighted Ghanaian film, highlife and Afrobeats, as well as locally produced textiles and clothing such as kente and fugu, as cultural products that have gained international recognition and helped promote the country globally.
She said sustained development of tourism, culture and the creative arts would help stimulate entrepreneurship, preserve Ghana’s cultural heritage, create employment and contribute to national economic growth.
Source:capitalnewsonline.com
