Ghana is expecting about 150,000 international tourist arrivals between October and December as part of its “December in Ghana” programme under the broader “Beyond the Return” initiative.
The anticipated visitors are expected to come primarily from the United States, the United Kingdom, Nigeria, Germany, China, the Netherlands and several other countries.
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Speaking at a press briefing in Accra, the Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Dr Ibrahim Mohammed Awal, said Ghana was experiencing a steady recovery in the tourism sector and had already achieved about 70 per cent of its annual target.
He described the previous year as particularly difficult for the tourism industry due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and said the ministry was working to double the country’s tourism figures for 2020.
Dr Awal noted that Ghana was recording more international tourist arrivals than any other country in West Africa, attributing the achievement to government policies aimed at promoting tourism and improving the country’s attractiveness as a destination.
He also expressed optimism that Ghana’s COVID-19 vaccination campaign would boost traveller confidence, indicating that nearly 20 million people were expected to be vaccinated by December.
The minister said Ghana was targeting a total of 600,000 international tourist arrivals by the end of the year, representing a 100 per cent increase over the previous year.
He added that the tourism sector was expected to generate about 250,000 jobs through both domestic and international tourism activities.
As part of efforts to promote domestic tourism, Dr Awal said the ministry aimed to attract one million domestic tourists within a year, with the target expected to be achieved by June of the following year.
He announced that the ministry would launch the “Destination Ghana” campaign in the United States on December 2 and 3 to encourage more visitors to travel to Ghana during the festive season and beyond.
Dr Awal said the government was also investing in tourism infrastructure, including the reopening of the National Museum after eight years of closure and the planned inauguration of five cultural centres across the country.
According to him, the cultural centres will provide opportunities to preserve and showcase Ghana’s rich cultural heritage through activities such as traditional drumming, dancing and other indigenous performances.
He expressed confidence that the government’s long-term strategy would elevate tourism from the fourth-largest contributor to Ghana’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to the top position by 2024.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), Akwasi Agyeman, assured prospective visitors that comprehensive health and safety protocols would be implemented at tourist sites across the country.
He said the Beyond the Return Secretariat was working closely with the national COVID-19 taskforce and other stakeholders to ensure the safety and wellbeing of tourists visiting Ghana.
