Ghana’s tourism sector recorded a mixed performance in 2025, with the country welcoming more international visitors but suffering a significant decline in earnings generated from tourism.
According to the 2025 Ghana Tourism Report, international tourism receipts fell from approximately US$4.83 billion in 2024 to US$4.34 billion in 2025, representing a decline of about US$490 million or 10.14 percent.
The decline in revenue is particularly notable because Ghana recorded an increase in international tourist arrivals during the same period. The country welcomed 1,306,962 international tourists in 2025, compared with 1,288,804 arrivals in 2024. This represents a 1.4 percent increase in visitor numbers.
The figures present a challenge for the tourism industry, as the growth in visitor numbers did not translate into higher foreign-exchange earnings. Instead, the average amount spent by international visitors declined considerably.
The 2025 report showed that average visitor expenditure dropped from US$3,742.98 in 2024 to US$3,319.90 in 2025. The reduction in average spending was a major factor behind the fall in total tourism receipts.
More Visitors, Lower Spending
The development raises questions about how Ghana can convert rising tourist numbers into greater economic benefits.
While attracting more visitors remains important, the figures suggest that increasing arrivals alone may not be sufficient to maximise tourism’s contribution to the economy. The amount visitors spend on accommodation, food, transportation, entertainment, shopping and other tourism-related activities is equally important.
Despite the decline in international receipts, several areas of the tourism industry recorded positive developments during the year.
Domestic tourism remained an important component of the sector, with more than 1.79 million visits recorded across 55 tourist sites nationwide. This indicates growing participation by Ghanaians in local tourism activities.
The number of licensed tourism enterprises also increased from 6,702 in 2024 to 7,109 in 2025, suggesting continued investment and expansion within the industry.
Travel trade activities grew by 18.6 percent, while the entertainment and conference segment recorded 14.3 percent growth during the period under review. These developments point to increasing activity across several parts of Ghana’s tourism and hospitality value chain.
December Tourism Continues to Grow
One of the strongest performances was recorded during the December tourism season.
International arrivals in December 2025 increased from 126,791 in December 2024 to 141,186, representing an 11.35 percent rise. The period, popularly associated with “Detty December” and the government’s “December in GH” initiative, continues to attract visitors from Ghana’s diaspora and other parts of the world.
Visitors are drawn to Ghana during the festive period by concerts, festivals, nightlife, cultural events and heritage tourism activities.
The growth of December tourism builds on the country’s earlier Year of Return and Beyond the Return initiatives, which helped strengthen Ghana’s position as a destination for diaspora engagement and cultural tourism.
Cruise tourism also recorded progress in 2025. A total of 18 cruise ship calls, carrying 5,488 passengers, were recorded through the ports of Tema and Takoradi.
A Challenge for Ghana’s Tourism Strategy
The fall in tourism earnings despite increased arrivals highlights the need for stakeholders to examine how visitors spend during their stay and how more value can be retained within the domestic economy.
The latest figures suggest that Ghana’s tourism sector remains resilient, but the country faces the task of ensuring that growth in visitor numbers produces stronger economic returns.
With international arrivals continuing to rise and several tourism-related businesses expanding, authorities and industry players will need to focus not only on attracting tourists but also on encouraging longer stays, higher spending and greater participation in locally owned tourism businesses.
The 2025 Ghana Tourism Report, published under the theme “Resilience and Sustainable Growth,” provides data intended to guide policy formulation, investment decisions and strategic planning across the tourism value chain.
For Ghana, the US$490 million decline serves as an important warning: attracting more tourists is only part of the equation. Turning those visitors into greater and more sustainable economic value will be critical to the future growth of the country’s tourism industry.
Source: Thepressradio.com
