GHS 4 Billion Spent on Foreign Trips in 2023 as Ashanti, Accra Lead – GSS
Government Statistician Dr Alhassan Iddrisu- Photo credit GSS
Accra, Ghana — Ghanaians spent an estimated GHS 4 billion abroad in 2023, according to the latest Domestic and Outbound Tourism Survey (DOTS) by the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS), which found that the Ashanti and Greater Accra regions accounted for the majority of outbound travelers.
The report revealed that 470,806 Ghanaians travelled outside the country either for same-day or overnight trips. Of the total spending, GHS 3.4 billion came from overnight visitors, while GHS 59.8 million was spent by same-day travelers.
The Ashanti Region consistently recorded the highest number of same-day outbound visitors, ranging between 3,000 and 5,000 per quarter. In contrast, the Greater Accra Region led in overnight travel, with between 30,000 and 50,000 travelers each quarter.
These trends mirror Ghana’s economic geography with Kumasi’s trade-driven economy fueling cross-border business trips to Togo, Côte d’Ivoire, and Burkina Faso, while Accra’s administrative and business prominence, along with Kotoka International Airport’s connectivity, make it the country’s primary gateway for long-haul travel.
The GSS said understanding these travel patterns is vital to shaping tourism and economic policy, especially as Ghana seeks to reduce capital flight from outbound travel.
“The data will support strategies to strengthen domestic tourism and retain more of the GHS 4 billion spent abroad within Ghana’s economy,” the Service stated.
Government Statistician, Dr Alhassan Iddrisu believes, the findings will inform targeted investment in regional tourism infrastructure, promote domestic travel, and encourage partnerships that keep more travel spending circulating within the local economy.
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