Akwasi Aygeman, the Chief Executive of the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), disclosed that the average spending of tourists visiting Ghana in the first quarter of 2023 nearly touched $3,000.

This revelation, based on research conducted by the GTA to track tourist expenditure, underscores the substantial economic impact of tourism on the country.

Akwasi Aygeman emphasized the positive contribution of tourist visits to the economy during an appearance on the PM Express Business Edition with host George Wiafe on November 23, 2023.

He highlighted the need for continuous efforts to enhance the overall tourist experience, stating, “The development shows that the economy benefits a lot from these visits, and maybe we have to do more to improve the experience of these tourists.”

Ghana, Akwasi Aygeman noted, is in competition with countries like Senegal, Rwanda, and South Africa for tourists and investors. He stressed the urgency to intensify efforts to increase the number of visits, positioning Ghana as a premier destination.

The announcement follows a recent publication by the Institute of Statistical, Social, and Economic Research (ISSER), which reported the average spending by tourists in 2022 at $2,700.

Akwasi Aygeman broke down the expenditure areas, highlighting that most of the money was allocated to accommodation, food, and transportation.

He specifically noted that accommodation accounted for a significant portion of the overall spending.

In response to this trend, Akwasi Aygeman also revealed that the GTA is developing strategies to encourage tourists to extend their stay in Ghana, aiming to maximize the economic impact of each visit.

Regarding the upcoming “December in Ghana” program, Akwasi Aygeman disclosed that the GTA is ambitiously targeting about 150,000 visitors.

He assured that the government is committed to implementing measures to address concerns related to tourist sites and hotel accommodations.

However, he expressed concern over the state of facilities at some tourism sites, signalling a need for infrastructure improvement.

Despite these challenges, Akwasi Aygeman highlighted the robust recovery of the tourism industry, surpassing pre-pandemic levels.