Hotels ready for tourist boom
The Ghana Hotels Association has expressed confidence in the hospitality sector’s ability to accommodate rising numbers of international tourists, following the release of new figures by the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) showing a continued surge in arrivals.
According to the 2024 Ghana Tourism Report, international visitor arrivals reached 1.29 million, marking a 12 percent year on year increase and reaffirming Ghana’s status as one of the top travel destinations in West Africa.
Speaking in a media interview, the President of the Ghana Hotels Association, Dr. Edward Ackah Nyamike Jr., said the country’s hospitality infrastructure is well prepared to handle even a doubling of current guest numbers, thanks to sustained investments and improvements in hotel capacity across the regions.
“We have the capacity to accommodate that number and even more. Although increasing the number of rooms and beds is part of our long term strategy, it is not solely in response to this current trend,” Dr. Nyamike assured.
He acknowledged that peak travel periods such as December in Ghana and major international conferences may occasionally place pressure on the sector, but noted that the industry is actively working on expansion and quality assurance.
“During peak periods, we must consider expansion and ensure we maintain quality standards across the board. The beds are available, and we could even host double the current figures. But that does not mean we should not continue to invest in additional capacity,” he emphasized.
While the sector appears well positioned to support increased tourism traffic, the Ghana Hotels Association is encouraging strategic investments to expand facilities, improve service delivery, and diversify Ghana’s accommodation offerings beyond Accra and major urban centers.
Industry players are also calling for enhanced support from government, including access to credit, tax reliefs, and infrastructure development to boost rural and eco tourism destinations.
“This is a sector with massive job creation potential. With the right policy environment and investor interest, Ghana could easily become the hospitality capital of the sub region,” Dr. Nyamike added.
The Association also stressed the importance of maintaining service quality, safety, and hygiene standards, especially as competition heightens and visitor expectations evolve.
The 2024 report revealed that Ghana earned USD4.8 billion from international visitors last year, up from USD3.8 billion in 2023, a 27 percent increase that signals the growing economic importance of the tourism and hospitality sector.
The Ghana Hotels Association’s readiness, coupled with ongoing efforts to promote local content, training, and certification, is seen as critical to Ghana’s broader vision of a 24-hour economy and a globally competitive tourism sector.
