Ghana’s Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, has announced that the country recorded 1,303,962 international tourist arrivals in 2025, generating an estimated GH¢4.34 billion in revenue for the economy.
The figure represents a rise from the 1,288,804 international visitors recorded in 2024, indicating a gradual expansion of Ghana’s tourism industry.
Madam Gomashie announced the figures on Monday, August 10, 2026, at the Government Accountability Series, where she presented an update on the performance and progress of the tourism, cultural and creative arts sectors.
She added that domestic tourism also recorded significant activity, with 1.68 million visits recorded during the period.
According to the Minister, Ghana’s 10 most popular tourist destinations recorded a combined 1,377,588 visits in 2025.
The leading attractions included the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park, Kakum National Park, Bunso Arboretum Eco Park, Cape Coast Castle, Manhyia Palace, Kumasi Zoo, Accra Zoo, Elmina Castle, Shai Hills Resource Reserve and Aburi Botanical Gardens.
The Minister explained that the strong patronage of the sites represented a substantial share of domestic tourism activity across the country.
She, however, pointed out that only three of the 10 attractions are under the direct supervision of the Tourism Ministry, while responsibility for the remaining facilities rests with other public institutions.
She therefore called for greater coordination among the agencies involved, as well as consistent funding for the preservation, upgrading and effective administration of the country’s tourism facilities.
The Minister again disclosed that licensed businesses operating within the tourism industry rose from 6,702 in 2024 to 7,109 in 2025, translating into a 6.1 per cent increase.
The travel trade segment recorded the strongest expansion, growing by 18.6 per cent over the same period.
Madam Gomashie said the development reflected an expanding network of businesses involved in tourism, including travel agencies, tour companies, excursion providers and other destination-related service operators.
She noted that the expansion of such enterprises had the potential to create additional employment opportunities for Ghanaians.
On the hospitality industry, the Minister said star-rated hotels employed an average of 101 people per establishment.
The average workforce consisted of 80 permanent employees, comprising 39 men and 41 women, while temporary staff accounted for 21 workers, including 12 men and nine women.
She said the figures demonstrated the importance of hotels and other hospitality establishments as sources of employment and contributors to the wider tourism economy.
Madam Gomashie stressed that tourism, culture and the creative arts remain important contributors to national development through revenue generation, employment creation and the promotion of Ghana’s cultural heritage.
She said attractions such as the Cape Coast and Elmina Castles, beaches, wildlife reserves, festivals and other heritage locations continued to draw visitors from within and outside the country.
The resulting visitor spending, she noted, benefits hotels, restaurants, transport companies and other businesses while providing the country with valuable foreign exchange.
The Minister also highlighted the contribution of the creative economy, particularly music, filmmaking, fashion, handicrafts, dance and traditional celebrations.
She said Ghanaian cultural expressions and creative products, including highlife, Afrobeats, kente, fugu and locally manufactured fabrics, had earned growing international attention.
According to her, the increasing global appeal of Ghana’s cultural and creative output could strengthen cultural tourism, increase export opportunities and create sustainable livelihoods for practitioners.
Madam Gomashie said the positive performance of the tourism and creative industries presented Ghana with an opportunity to attract greater investment, generate more jobs and promote the country’s cultural heritage internationally.
By: Magdalene Agyeiwaa Sarpong