According to the Ghana Statistical Service, the government could generate approximately $1.5 billion by 2027 if it fully exploits the potential of the tourism industry.
The Service further states that developing the sector could help address the issue of high youth unemployment by providing economic opportunities.
At the launch of the 2023 Domestic and Outbound Survey in Winneba, Government Statistician Professor Samuel Kobina Annim noted that the survey would provide a comprehensive overview of the tourism sector to inform policy decisions.
“It is projected that by 2027 we are going to have about 4.3 million people who will come into the country as tourist arrivals,” he said.
“All that Ghana Statistical Service is doing is to ensure that we have good tourism data and the Domestic and Outbound Survey is one of the four activities we’re going to do in the course of the year,” he added.
“Why we are doing that is to be clear in our minds as a country the way we engage with statistics. It is important that every ministry will have its policy document, strategy and plans to have clear statistical targets”.
He added, “If we manage the sector well, we could attract about $1.5 billion from the tourism sector by 2027. This sector has the potential to generate almost half of the funds we are currently seeking from the IMF.”
Meanwhile, Professor Kwaku Boakye, a tourism professor at the University of Cape Coast, emphasized the importance of increased investment by stakeholders in the sector to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
