Ghana recorded 1,793,797 visits to 55 tourist sites in 2025, a 7% rise from 1,681,985 the previous year, with domestic travellers accounting for 84% of all visits.
The figures are contained in the Ghana Tourism Report 2025, produced by the Research, Monitoring and Evaluation Department of the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA). The report examines international arrivals, domestic tourism, visitor spending, tourism businesses and customer satisfaction.
It recorded 1,306,962 international arrivals during the year, representing a 1.4% increase. International visitors stayed for an average of approximately 13 nights, while business travel made up 31% of arrivals.
However, average spending per international visitor fell from US$3,742.98 in 2024 to US$3,319.90 in 2025. The report says the increase in visitor numbers does not necessarily result in greater tourism revenue, and recommends attracting higher-spending visitors and developing premium tourism experiences.
Visitor numbers concentrated in key destinations
Tourism remained focused largely on Greater Accra, Central, Ashanti and Eastern regions. The 10 busiest sites received 1,377,588 visits, equivalent to 77% of the total recorded across the 55 attractions.
Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park was the most visited site, with 302,523 visits. The other leading destinations were Kakum National Park, Bunso Arboretum, Cape Coast Castle, Manhyia Palace Museum, Kumasi Zoo, Accra Zoo, Elmina Castle, Shai Hills Resource Reserve and Aburi Botanical Garden.
The report says the concentration of visitors among a small number of attractions creates an opportunity to develop less-visited parts of Ghana through better infrastructure, easier access and stronger promotion.
The number of licensed tourism enterprises also increased, rising from 6,702 in 2024 to 7,109 in 2025. The businesses operate across accommodation, food and beverage, entertainment, conferences and travel-related services.
Travel-trade businesses grew by 18.6%, while entertainment and conference enterprises increased by 14.3%. The expansion is expected to create opportunities for investment and employment across the tourism value chain.
Events and cruise tourism
Special events, including the Kwahu Easter Paragliding Festival, PANAFEST, Emancipation celebrations and December in GH, continued to draw domestic and international visitors.
They supported demand for accommodation, transport, food, entertainment and other hospitality services. The Kwahu Easter Paragliding Festival contributed particularly to tourism activity in the Eastern Region, while PANAFEST and the Emancipation celebrations attracted Ghanaian residents and overseas visitors.
Ghana also recorded 18 cruise ship calls through the ports of Takoradi and Tema, involving 5,488 passengers. Although cruise tourism remains a small part of the sector, the report identifies scope to connect passengers with heritage sites, cultural activities, craft markets and coastal attractions.
International visitors gave Ghana strong ratings for hospitality and its airport experience. Ghanaian friendliness received a 99% rating, while airport facilities and airport formalities each scored 98%.
Under the theme “Resilience and Sustainable Growth”, the report stresses the importance of eco-tourism, community-based tourism and protecting cultural and natural heritage.
It says tourism growth should create economic and social benefits while safeguarding the resources that attract visitors. Expanding domestic tourism could also spread revenue beyond established centres, helping businesses and communities across the country.
The report concludes that Ghana must combine stronger infrastructure, improved access to emerging destinations and better tourism products with measures to increase visitor spending and support sustainable growth.
