Same-day travellers spend GH¢60m on cross-border trips – GSS Report
Travellers who made same-day return journeys to Ghana in 2023 spent an estimated GHS60 million, according to the Ghana Statistical Service’s (GSS) maiden Ghana Outbound Visitors Report.
The report revealed that outbound travellers who crossed Ghana’s borders and returned the same day, without spending the night, accounted for the entire expenditure, pegged at GHS59.8 million for the year.
Business and professional trips represented the largest share of same-day outbound travel at 34 per cent, followed by funeral attendance at 23 per cent. Other purposes included visits to friends and relatives, leisure, recreation, and shopping.
A total of 77,501 same-day outbound travellers were recorded in 2023, comprising 40,506 men and 36,995 women. The Ashanti Region emerged as the area with the highest number of such travellers, with trips estimated to range between 3,000 and 5,000 per quarter.
Commenting on the findings, Government Statistician Dr Alhassan Iddrisu said the regional patterns reflect the economic and social diversity of the Ashanti Region. He noted that the data highlights how travel behaviour is shaped by both business and cultural ties.
The report identified Togo as the leading destination country, recording the highest number of outbound travellers and the largest on-trip expenditure.
“This signifies the country’s strong social and economic relations with Togo,” the report stated.
Dr Iddrisu indicated that short cross-border travel is driven not only by trade but also by family and social connections, which continue to influence movement between Ghana and its neighbours.
“Short cross-border travel is not only about trade but about maintaining family and social connections,” he said, stressing that regional integration offers both social and economic benefits.
The report further revealed that 95 per cent of total spending occurred during the trips, with most travel taking place in the first quarter of 2023. Buses, minibuses and bicycles were the most used modes of transport, confirming that nearly all same-day trips were made by road.
Dr Iddrisu emphasised the importance of supporting the tourism and travel industry, urging government to consider tax incentives for tour operators who use local services and products.
He also encouraged collaboration among hospitality operators, transport companies and airlines to create attractive travel packages that enhance both domestic and cross-border tourism.
