Domestic travel in Ghana generated an estimated GH₵6.6 billion in spending from more than 15 million trips undertaken in 2023, according to data released by the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS).
Findings from the country’s first Domestic Visitors’ Survey underscore the scale and economic relevance of travel by Ghanaians within the country, positioning domestic tourism as a key driver of activity across transport services, hospitality, and community-based enterprises.
Confirming the results in a press statement, Government Statistician Dr. Alhassan Iddrisu highlighted the growing importance of domestic tourism to the broader economy.
“This momentum has brought a powerful reminder that tourism is not only about international arrivals. It is also about Ghanaians discovering Ghana, investing in local experiences, and breathing economic life into the communities and sites they visit,” he said.
The survey shows that overnight travel accounted for the bulk of spending, contributing approximately GH₵4.8 billion, or 73 per cent of total domestic tourism expenditure. Same-day trips generated about GH₵1.8 billion, representing the remaining 27 per cent, with most spending occurring during the trips.
Data from the survey indicate that domestic travel is largely driven by the economically active population, with individuals aged 25 to 44 years accounting for 41.1 per cent of same-day trips and 35.2 per cent of overnight travel.
Social and cultural activities dominate travel motivations, with over 80 per cent of overnight trips and around 70 per cent of same-day trips linked to visits to friends and relatives or attendance at funerals, reflecting the strong role of family and social networks in domestic mobility.
The GSS noted that domestic travel remains highly independent, with more than 95 per cent of trips self-arranged, while road transport, particularly buses and minibuses, remains the dominant mode of travel.
According to the Service, the survey provides nationally representative data to support tourism planning, investment prioritisation, and the development of Ghana’s Tourism Satellite Account.
