In 2024, Ghana registered 1,681,985 domestic visitors to tourist destinations, a 19% increase over the year before and demonstrating the vital role local tourism plays in the nation’s post-pandemic recovery.

Ghanaians accounted for 85.4% of all visitors to specific tourist destinations, according to the Ghana Tourism Authority’s (GTA) 2024 Tourism Report. This indicates that locals are becoming more interested in visiting historical and recreational sites across the country. Non-resident visitors, on the other hand, had a 3% decrease from 2023.

“Domestic tourism fuels local economies, revives cultural heritage and strengthens the threads of unity in our national fabric,” The surge, according to the report, is due to audacious governmental investments that have transformed tourism from a luxury activity to a vital economic activity.

With approximately 333,000 visitors in 2024, the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park topped the list of top attractions. Bunso Arboretum (155,149) and Kakum National Park (183,757) came next. There were 133,954 visitors to the Kumasi Zoo, 120,242 at Cape Coast Castle, and 106,100 at the Manhyia Palace Museum. There were 87,691 visits to Elmina Castle and 83,953 at the Accra Zoo. The Shai Hills Resource Reserve (67,881 visits) and Aburi Botanical Gardens (52,330 visits) were also highlighted.

The influence of regional celebrations, such as the Kwahu Easter Paragliding Festival, which drew sizable audiences and substantial spending, was also emphasised in the report. The GTA reports that tourists supported local businesses by spending an average of GHS 1,042.16 per day on housing, food, transportation, and nightlife.

The GTA sees domestic travel as a viable pillar of the nation’s tourism growth strategy because of the high levels of public interest and continuous infrastructural improvements. According to the report’s conclusion, sustained investment, strategic planning, and solid collaborations between the public and private sectors are necessary to keep the momentum going.