Foreign tourists stay longer as domestic guests dominate Ghana’s accommodation market – GSS

Ghana's accommodation market is dominated by domestic travellers, according to a recent survey by the Ghana Statistical Service. Despite this, foreign tourists stay significantly longer on average, spending three to four nights in hotels compared to the two nights recorded for domestic guests. This longer stay length highlights the importance of not only attracting foreign visitors but also encouraging them to prolong their stays to maximize economic benefits.

Domestic tourism, however, remains a substantial market, and tourism businesses and destination managers are urged to develop products tailored to domestic travel patterns, such as packages linked to attractions, cultural events, festivals, and conferences. Encouraging longer stays in tourism could lead to increased demand for various services, spreading spending across local economies and creating additional opportunities beyond initial hotel bookings.

The survey is part of Ghana's first nationally representative longitudinal study of short-stay accommodation activity, covering 12 months of data collection, but the findings are considered an emerging baseline rather than long-term trends.