Ghana Records 1.3 Million International Arrivals in 2025 as Domestic Tourism Grows by 7%

Ghana recorded 1,306,962 international visitor arrivals in 2025, representing a 1.4% increase over the previous year, while domestic visits to tourist sites rose by 7%, according to the Ghana Tourism Report 2025.

The report, produced by the Research, Monitoring and Evaluation Department of the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), provides an assessment of the country’s tourism performance, covering international and domestic tourism, visitor expenditure, tourism enterprises, regional development, visitor satisfaction and special tourism events.

The report, themed “Resilience and Sustainable Growth,” highlights the sector’s gradual progress while identifying challenges that require attention to ensure tourism contributes more significantly to Ghana’s economic development.

It emphasises the need to move beyond increasing visitor numbers towards improving tourism experiences, attracting higher-spending visitors, supporting local communities and protecting the country’s natural and cultural heritage.

International Arrivals Increase Despite Decline in Visitor Spending

Ghana recorded 1,306,962 international arrivals in 2025, marking a 1.4% increase compared with the previous year.

International visitors stayed in the country for an average of approximately 13 nights, while business affairs emerged as the leading purpose of travel, accounting for 31% of arrivals.

The figures underline Ghana’s position as a destination for business and commercial activities within the West African region.

However, the report identifies a decline in average international visitor expenditure as a concern for the sector.

Average expenditure fell from US$3,742.98 in 2024 to US$3,319.90 in 2025, suggesting that the increase in visitor numbers did not translate into higher average spending per visitor.

The report consequently highlights the importance of attracting higher-value visitors and developing premium tourism experiences capable of generating greater economic returns.

Domestic Tourism Records 7% Growth

Domestic tourism emerged as one of the strongest-performing areas of Ghana’s tourism sector in 2025.

According to the report, the country recorded 1,793,797 visits to 55 tourist sites, up from 1,681,985 visits in 2024, representing a 7% increase.

Residents accounted for 84% of the visits, making Ghanaians the largest group visiting the attractions covered by the report.

The growth highlights the importance of domestic tourism in sustaining the industry, supporting businesses and creating economic opportunities in communities across the country.

Domestic visitors contribute to local economies through spending on transportation, accommodation, food, entrance fees, souvenirs, entertainment and other tourism-related services.

The report therefore identifies domestic tourism as an important pillar of resilience, particularly because it can help sustain tourism businesses while spreading economic benefits to destinations beyond the country’s main international tourism centres.

Top 10 Tourist Sites Account for 77% of Visits

Despite the growth recorded in domestic tourism, visitor activity remains concentrated in a relatively small number of destinations.

The report indicates that the top 10 tourist sites recorded 1,377,588 visits, representing approximately 77% of total visitation to the 55 sites covered.

The Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park emerged as the most visited attraction, recording 302,523 visits in 2025.

Other leading attractions 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 concentration of visits in major destinations, particularly in Greater Accra, Central, Ashanti and Eastern Regions, points to opportunities for expanding tourism in less-visited parts of Ghana.

Differences in infrastructure, accessibility, destination visibility and visitor demand are identified as factors that may contribute to the uneven distribution of tourism activity.

Expanding tourism infrastructure and promoting lesser-known attractions could help create new tourism destinations, increase regional participation and distribute the benefits of the industry more widely.

Tourism Businesses Increase to 7,109

The formal tourism business sector also recorded growth in 2025.

The number of licensed tourism enterprises increased from 6,702 in 2024 to 7,109 in 2025, reflecting an expansion in the businesses operating within the sector.

The enterprises include accommodation facilities, food, beverage and entertainment businesses, as well as travel-trade establishments.

Travel-trade enterprises recorded particularly strong growth of 18.6%, while the entertainment and conference segment expanded by 14.3%.

The increase points to growing private-sector participation in tourism and the expanding range of services available to visitors.

Tourism enterprises also play an important role in employment and income generation, particularly for people working in hospitality, transportation, tour operations, entertainment and related services.

Festivals and Special Events Boost Tourism

The Ghana Tourism Report 2025 also highlights the contribution of special events to visitor numbers and economic activity.

Among the events covered are the Kwahu Easter Paragliding Festival, PANAFEST and Emancipation celebrations, and December in GH.

The Kwahu Easter Paragliding Festival attracted visitors, including young people, and contributed to activity in accommodation and other hospitality businesses in the Eastern Region.

PANAFEST and Emancipation celebrations also attracted Ghanaian residents and international visitors, reinforcing the role of heritage and cultural events in promoting Ghana as a destination for cultural tourism.

December in GH recorded strong participation and positive visitor experiences, demonstrating the importance of seasonal events in attracting visitors and stimulating economic activity.

The report’s findings underscore the potential of festivals and cultural programmes to support businesses, promote Ghanaian heritage and create opportunities for tourism development in host communities.

Ghana Records 18 Cruise Ship Calls

Cruise tourism remained a smaller but potentially significant segment of the industry in 2025.

Ghana recorded 18 cruise ship calls involving 5,488 passengers, with vessels arriving through the ports of Takoradi and Tema.

Although the numbers remain modest compared with the country’s total international arrivals, cruise tourism presents opportunities to introduce visitors to Ghanaian heritage sites, cultural experiences, local crafts and coastal attractions.

Developing this segment could create additional opportunities for tour operators, transport providers, craft sellers and businesses located near major attractions and ports.

Visitor Satisfaction Remains High

The report also highlights positive international visitor perceptions of Ghana.

Ghanaian friendliness received a satisfaction rating of 99%, while airport facilities and airport formalities each recorded 98%.

These findings point to hospitality and the airport experience as important strengths of the country’s tourism offering.

Maintaining high service standards across the tourism value chain will be important for encouraging repeat visits, strengthening Ghana’s international reputation and improving the overall experience of travellers.

The report also suggests that tourism development must continue to prioritise service quality alongside efforts to attract more visitors.

Sustainable tourism development is another key focus of the report.

It highlights the importance of ecotourism, community-based tourism and the preservation of Ghana’s cultural and heritage assets.

The approach recognises that tourism must generate economic and social benefits without damaging the natural environment and cultural resources that attract visitors.

Community-based tourism can also provide opportunities for residents to participate directly in tourism activities and benefit from the income generated by visitors.

Protecting heritage sites, natural attractions and local traditions is therefore essential to ensuring that tourism growth remains beneficial in the long term.

Overall, the Ghana Tourism Report 2025 presents a sector recording growth in domestic visits, international arrivals and licensed tourism enterprises, alongside high visitor satisfaction.

However, the decline in average international visitor expenditure and the concentration of visits in a limited number of tourist sites remain important concerns.

The findings point to the need for improved tourism infrastructure, greater accessibility to emerging destinations, stronger promotion of lesser-known attractions and the development of experiences that encourage visitors to spend more.

Expanding domestic tourism and supporting businesses in local communities could also help distribute the sector’s economic benefits more evenly across the country.

The report ultimately places emphasis on a tourism development approach that prioritises not only visitor numbers but also employment creation, private-sector growth, community participation, cultural preservation and environmental protection.

The overview was prepared by Worklatsi John Edem, an intern at the Corporate Affairs Department of the Ghana Tourism Authority.