Ghana recorded 1.3 million international tourists in 2025 – Tourism Minister

Ghana’s tourism performance released by Madam Abla Dzifa Gomashie, the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts shows that the country welcomed 1,306,962 international tourists in 2025, which is an increase over the 2024 figure of 1,288,804. 

The total revenue generated from the arrivals in 2025 was $4.34 billion. 

The Minister noted that domestic tourism grew from 1.68 million visits in 2024 to 1.79 million visits in 2025, representing a seven per cent growth. 

Madam Gomashie made this known on Monday, when she took her turn at the Government Accountability Press Conference Series held at the Presidency in Accra. 

The engagement was to account to the people of Ghana for the performance of the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts and its support for jobs, economic growth, and national identity, as well as to share our outlook. 

“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. 

The Minister said the 10 most visited attractions in Ghana combined to draw 1,377,588 visitors in 2025, which accounted for almost 77 per cent of all domestic tourism site visits nationwide. 

Madam Gomashie said these sites were Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park, Kakum National Park, Bonsu Arboretum/Eco Park, Cape Coast Castle, Manhyia Palace, Kumasi Zoo, Accra Zoo, Elmina Castle, Shai Hills Resource Reserve and Aburi Botanical Gardens. 

She said average total workforce of star-rated hotels in Ghana was now 101 staff per hotel indicating 80 (39 males + 41 females) full-time staff and 21 (12 males – 9 females) temporary staff. Licensed tourism enterprises have grown from 6,702 in 2024 to 7,109, thus achieving 6.1 per cent growth in 2025. 

The Minister said it was important to note that the expansion in travel trade enterprises, which recorded 18.6 per cent growth suggests the growth in the ecosystem of tour operators, travel agencies, destination services, excursion businesses and tourism intermediaries promoting job creation and employment. 

She said tourism, culture, and the creative arts make significant contributions to the economy of Ghana by generating income, creating employment, and promoting the country’s identity globally. 

She reiterated that tourism attracts visitors to Ghana’s historical sites such as Cape Coast and Elmina Castles, national parks, beaches, and vibrant festivals, bringing in foreign exchange and supporting businesses like hotels, restaurants, and transport services. 

The Minister said culture and creative arts, including music, film, fashion, crafts, dance, and traditional festivals—also stimulate economic activity by providing jobs for artists, designers, performers, and artisans. 

She said Ghana’s film industry, highlife, and Afrobeat music, and locally made textiles like kente, fugu and Ankara have gained international recognition, increasing exports and cultural tourism. 

Madam Gomashie said together, tourism, culture, and the creative arts promote entrepreneurship, preserve Ghana’s heritage, and contribute significantly to national development and economic growth. 

Source: GNA