Ghanaians now driving tourism growth – World Bank report
The tourism sector continues to prove its resilience as one of the country’s leading sources of employment and economic recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic.
A new report by the World Bank shows that tourism is fast evolving from a foreign visitor-driven industry into a vibrant, locally sustained economic pillar.
According to the World Bank’s Africa Pulse Report released in October 2025, Ghana’s tourism industry directly employed 370,000 people in 2024, accounting for about 2.5 per cent of the national workforce.
When the broader value chain, including transport, agriculture, crafts, food and accommodation, is considered, the total number of jobs linked to tourism rises to 813,000.
Perhaps the most significant revelation from the report is that Ghanaians themselves are now the main drivers of tourism spending. The report notes that 61 per cent of all tourism expenditure in 2024 came from local visitors, far surpassing the contribution of foreign tourists.
This contrasts sharply with other African economies such as Tanzania, where international travellers remain the backbone of the sector.
“In 2024, tourism directly employed 370,000 people in Ghana (2.5 per cent of the workforce), expanding to 813,000 when value chain and consumption effects are included.
“Here, the multiplier is weaker at 1.2, but the domestic market drives resilience: 61 per cent of spending came from Ghanaians themselves, compared to Tanzania’s heavy reliance on international visitors,” the report stated.
According to development economists, this trend has wide-ranging economic benefits. By spending locally on travel, accommodation, food, and entertainment, Ghanaians are keeping money circulating within the economy.
This stimulates growth in related industries such as transportation, hospitality, crafts and agriculture, creating a ripple effect that strengthens local livelihoods.
While Ghana’s tourism multiplier effect, estimated at 1.2, is modest compared with countries that have higher foreign visitor inflows, the World Bank emphasises that the strong domestic base provides a buffer against external shocks such as global recessions or pandemics.
