The Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta has stated that efforts are underway to attract over three million tourists to the country as part of the aftermath of the Beyond the Return initiative.
He made this statement whilst presenting the Mid-Year Budget Review in Parliament.
According to the minister, the initiative is set to turn Ghana into a one-stop for tourists who plan to visit West Africa.
It will also be a source of large income for the benefit of the country.
“Mr Speaker, to make Ghana the Tourism Hub for West Africa, the Domestic & Regional Tourism Campaign, dubbed ‘Experience Ghana, Share Ghana’ was intensified across the country by Government. Our goal is to complement this campaign, the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park, which was redeveloped and modernised with support from the World Bank and other development partners, was commissioned by President Akufo-Addo on 4th July 2023. The redeveloped park will boost domestic and heritage tourism and is expected to attract over 1 million tourists annually,”
The Minister mentioned some of the tourist sites the government will revamp to achieve the initiates goal.
”The Government will continue with the redevelopment of Aburi Botanical Gardens, Salaga and Pikworo Slavery Camps and Yaa Asantewaa Mausoleum to boost domestic tourism.”
Meanwhile, he posits that a partnership with the Ghana Museums and Monuments Board (GMMB) will drive the efforts to renovate selected Forts, Castles and Museums across the country.
According to him, the country is on track to chalk 1.2 million visitors in the current year and 3.5 million domestic and foreign tourists by two years from now.
“We have made considerable progress towards achieving 1.2 million visitors for 2023 with 150,000 jobs along the value chain, and 2 million foreign visitors and 1.5 million in domestic tourism by 2025.”
