Ghana’s tourism sector posted measurable gains in 2025, with rising international arrivals, stronger domestic participation, enterprise expansion, cultural recognition and new digital and night-time products.

Speaking at the Government Accountability Series organised by the Presidency, Hon. Abla Dzifa Gomashie, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, presented a detailed account of the year’s performance. “International tourist arrivals reached 1,303,962 people in 2025, which is an increase over the 2024 figure of 1,288,804,” she said. Revenue generated from the arrivals stood at 4.34 billion. Domestic tourism also advanced from a base of 1.68 million visits.

The ten most popular sites continued to dominate visitor traffic.

“The 10 most visited attractions in Ghana combined to draw 1,377,588 visitors in 2025. This accounted for roughly 77% of all domestic tourism site visits nationwide”
Hon. Abla Dzifa Gomashie ,Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts

The list comprised 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. She noted that only three of the ten fall directly under the Ministry, with the remainder managed through other arrangements.

Employment in the hospitality sector remained robust. “Average total workforce of star-rated hotels in Ghana is now 101 staff per hotel, indicating 80 full-time staff and 21 temporary staff,” Gomashie reported. “And the gender demarcations are that there are more females in the sector… than males.”

Licensed tourism enterprises expanded steadily. “Licensed tourism enterprises have grown from 6,702 in 2024 to 7,109, achieving 6.1% growth in 2025,” she said. Growth was especially pronounced in the travel trade.

“It is important to note that expansion in travel trade enterprises, which recorded 18.6% growth, suggests that growth in the ecosystem to tour operators, travel agencies, destination services, excursion businesses, and tourism intermediaries promoting job creation and employment.”
Hon. Abla Dzifa Gomashie ,Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts

Cultural Diplomacy Wins

Cultural diplomacy delivered one of the year’s standout successes. “One of the proudest achievements in 2025 was a successful inscription of high-life music and dance on UNESCO’s representative list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity,” Gomashie declared. Ghana followed the procedures of the 2003 UNESCO Convention, which was ratified during President John Dramani Mahama’s first term.

The nomination dossier documented high-life’s history, practices, community significance and the participation of practitioners.

“What this means in simple terms is that high-life is now globally recognized as a heritage Ghana gave to the world, just like Kete, Kinte, or Abamavo,” she explained.

“The practical impacts of the inscription includes boosting cultural tourism and Ghana’s global visibility, opening international opportunities for musicians and creatives, and protecting high-life for future generations through structured safeguarding. This singular achievement strengthens Ghana’s cultural brand and reinforces culture as soft power with real economic value”
Hon. Abla Dzifa Gomashie ,Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts

President Mahama also launched a flagship year-round programme. “His Excellency the President officially launched the Black Star Experience as a year-round national program, not a one-off festival,” Gomashie said.

“What makes this initiative different is that it brings together festivals, film, fashion, food, music, heritage, and creative arts under one national identity. Instead of tourism peaking only in December, the Black Star Experience ensures continuous cultural and tourism activities throughout the year across all regions”
Hon. Abla Dzifa Gomashie ,Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts

Through the National Commission on Culture, its regional centres and the National Theatre, dozens of activities were staged in 2025 in support of youth, creative entrepreneurs and destination promotion.

Digital tools moved the sector firmly into the online space. “In 2025, we move tourism from family into the digital economy through the deployment and live use of Ghana Tourism Marketplace and the Ghana Tourism Investment Platform,” the Minister stated.

“These platforms allow tourists to book verified experiences online, investors to assess credible data-backed tourism investment opportunities, local operators to reach national and international markets”
Hon. Abla Dzifa Gomashie ,Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts

December 2025 bookings were strong, “with the Accra by Night Tour accounting for about 93% of total platform revenue.”

Night-time tourism was deliberately introduced.

“We launched Accra by Night as a structured night tourism product to expand tourism beyond daytime activities in the capital city. This initiative supports restaurants, artists, transport operators, and small businesses while aligning directly with the government’s 24-hour economy agenda,”
Hon. Abla Dzifa Gomashie ,Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts

“The strong uptake of the tour… confirms that nighttime tourism is viable and impactful.”

Heritage and Infrastracture

Infrastructure and heritage assets received focused attention. “We focused on fixing, protecting, and repositioning key national tourism assets,” Gomashie noted. Highlights included the re-opening of Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park after power challenges were resolved, completion of the Tanoboase Sacred Grove Project ready for public opening, and improved governance at sites such as the Anomabu Garden of Return and the Tetteh Quarshie Cocoa Farm.

Taken together, the figures and initiatives demonstrate a sector that is expanding its economic footprint while elevating Ghana’s cultural profile.

Gomashie presented the results as evidence of progress in receipts, jobs and soft power, with high-life’s UNESCO listing standing as a defining national achievement of 2025.