Ghana recorded 1.79 million visits to tourist sites in 2025, a seven per cent rise from the 1.68 million visits in 2024, driven largely by domestic travel. Residents accounted for 84 per cent of all visits, according to the Ghana Tourism Report 2025 released by the Research, Monitoring and Evaluation Department of the Ghana Tourism Authority.
The report examines tourism performance across 55 sites, showing that local visitors fueled much of the growth. International arrivals increased by 1.4 per cent to 1,306,962, with visitors staying an average of 13 nights. Business travel made up 31 per cent of these arrivals. Despite the rise in visitor numbers, average spending per international tourist fell from US$3,743 in 2024 to US$3,320 in 2025, suggesting that attracting more visitors did not translate into higher tourism revenue.
Tourism activity remained focused in a handful of regions: Greater Accra, Central, Ashanti and Eastern. The top 10 tourist sites accounted for 1.38 million visits, or 77 per cent of total visits. The Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park was the most visited, drawing 302,523 visitors. Other leading sites included Kakum National Park, Bunso Arboretum, Cape Coast Castle, Manhyia Palace Museum, Kumasi Zoo, Accra Zoo, Elmina Castle, Shai Hills Resource Reserve and Aburi Botanical Garden. The report noted the concentration of tourists in these locations and pointed to opportunities for developing attractions in less-visited areas through better infrastructure and promotion.
Licensed tourism enterprises increased from 6,702 in 2024 to 7,109 in 2025. The businesses span accommodation, food and beverage, entertainment, conferences and travel services. The travel-trade segment grew 18.6 per cent, while entertainment and conference businesses expanded by 14.3 per cent. This growth created opportunities for private-sector investment and employment throughout the tourism value chain.
Special tourism events contributed to the sector’s activity. The Kwahu Easter Paragliding Festival boosted tourism in the Eastern Region, while PANAFEST and Emancipation celebrations attracted both domestic and international visitors. The December in GH festival also drew crowds. These events supported demand for accommodation, transportation, food and entertainment services.
Cruise tourism remained small but showed potential. Ghana recorded 18 cruise ship calls with 5,488 passengers docking at the ports of Takoradi and Tema. The report suggested expanding cruise tourism by linking passengers to heritage sites, cultural experiences, craft markets and coastal attractions.
International visitors gave Ghana high marks for hospitality and airport services. The country received a 99 per cent rating for friendliness. Airport facilities and formalities each earned 98 per cent ratings. These figures stressed the importance of maintaining service standards to encourage repeat visits and bolster Ghana’s reputation as a destination.
The report also addressed eco-tourism, community-based tourism and the preservation of cultural and natural heritage. It stressed that tourism development must balance economic and social benefits with protecting environmental and cultural resources that appeal to visitors. Expanding domestic tourism was seen as a way to spread tourism revenue beyond established centres, enabling more businesses and communities to benefit.
Ghana’s tourism sector showed gains in domestic visits, international arrivals and licensed enterprises in 2025 but faced challenges with visitor spending and uneven distribution of tourism activity. The report called for investments in infrastructure, better access to emerging destinations, stronger tourism products and initiatives to increase visitor expenditure.
The Ghana Tourism Report 2025 framed tourism’s future as not just about increasing visitor numbers but also about creating jobs, supporting local businesses, preserving heritage and encouraging sustainable economic growth across the country.
According to 3News.
