The Chief Executive of the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), Akwasi Aygeman, has disclosed that the average spending of a tourist who visited Ghana in the first quarter of 2023 reached almost $3,000. 

According to him, the figures are based on a research carried out by the GTA to track the expenditure of tourists in Ghana.

“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”, he said on PM Express Business Edition with host George Wiafe on November 23, 2023.

“Ghana is competing with countries like Senegal, Rwanda, and South Africa for these tourists and investors. We have to do more to increase the visits” he added.

The revelation comes on the back of recent publication by the Institute of Statistical, Social, and Economic Research (ISSER) which pegged the average spending by tourist in 2022 at $2,700.

Areas expenditure covered

According to Mr Agyeman, most of the monies were spent on accommodation, food and transport.

“But accommodation takes chuck of the expenditure”, he pointed out. 

He stated that the GTA is devising strategies to encourage tourists to extend their stay in Ghana.

Tourist visit

On the number of tourists, the government is targeting for the “December in Ghana” programme, Mr. Agyeman said GTA is targeting about 150,000 visitors.

“Government is committed to putting in place measures to deal with all concerns in relation to tourist sites and hotel issue”.

He, however expressed worry over facilities at tourism sites.

He disclosed that the tourism industry has picked up strongly surpassing pre-pandemic levels.