President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has praised Ghana’s tourism industry, highlighting the country’s growing popularity among international visitors.
The president stated that the government, through the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture, and the Ghana Tourism Authority, has invested in enhancing the country’s tourism infrastructure and services, as well as supporting the development of the creative arts industry.
In his State of the Nation Address on Tuesday, February 27, 2024, the president stated that Ghana has seen a consistent increase in tourist visits following the successful ‘Year of Return’ campaign, which commemorated the 400th anniversary of the arrival of the first enslaved Africans in America.
“…in the tourism sector, Ghana is finally realizing its long-held potential. Starting with the activities and excitement of the Year of Return in 2019, Ghana has genuinely become a popular tourist destination, with visitor numbers increasing year after year,” he stated.
The president also mentioned the phenomena of ‘December in GH’, which refers to the inflow of visitors that travel to Ghana in December to enjoy the festive season and the many events and activities that take place across the country.
He stated that ‘December in GH’ had altered the events calendar in Accra and other places, providing chances for local enterprises and entrepreneurs.
“December in GH is now an established and increasingly attractive phenomenon, which brings visitors to our country in the month of December, and has changed the events calendar around the Christmas holiday season in Accra and many other towns,” the minister added.
The president also stated that the government was working on creating tax benefits for the film industry, which he said would make Ghana a desirable destination for African film production.