Tourism-related employment in Ghana expanded from 252,714 jobs in 2021 to 276,985 in 2022, continuing growth through 2023 with 204,591 direct jobs and an estimated 429,641 jobs including indirect positions across hotels, airlines, tour operators, and supporting industries.
Visitor Growth and Sector Expansion
International tourist arrivals in Ghana reached 1,288,804 in 2024, generating approximately US$4.8 billion in tourism revenue. In 2025, arrivals increased by 1.4% to 1,306,962. The number of licensed tourism enterprises rose from 5,786 in 2023 to 6,702 in 2024, reflecting broader sector growth and increasing demand for tourism services.
Graduate Tourism Employment and Mobility Programme
The Graduate Tourism Employment and Mobility (GTEM) Programme will train and certify 200
graduates as professional tour guides, deploying them across hotels, tour companies, cultural sites, and events nationwide. The programme also includes mobility support to help graduates access vehicles necessary for tour operations.
Professional Training for Frontline Workers
The Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) and Ghana Tourism Federation (GHATOF) collaborate on national professional training and certification programmes targeting frontline tourism and hospitality workers such as tour guides, waiters, and front-office staff, improving employability through recognized qualifications.
Entrepreneurship Opportunities in Tourism
Beyond traditional roles, the tourism sector in Ghana supports youth entrepreneurship as tour operators, content creators, photographers, event organisers, car-rental operators, and digital marketers. These businesses promote local attractions including beaches, waterfalls,
heritage sites, festivals, and national parks.
Tourism Growth Supports Youth Employment and Local Economies
Expanding tourism in diverse locations across Ghana is reducing youth unemployment by providing skills training, certification, entrepreneurship support, and mobility assistance. This growth boosts not only direct employment in tourism businesses but also indirect jobs in related sectors such as handicrafts and transportation.
Official Statements on Sector Development
GTA CEO Maame Efua Houadjeto said, “We are going to train and certify 200 graduates as professional tour guides, standardise and improve the quality of tour guiding across Ghana, and deploy them into hotels, tour companies, cultural sites, and events.” She added that this approach links opportunity directly to productivity, moving
youth from unemployment to enterprise.
GHATOF President Seth Ocran stated, “I want to speak directly to our frontline workers: this programme was designed with you in mind… certification must be accessible not just aspirational.” Maame Efua Houadjeto also emphasized, “No single institution can transform the sector alone… but together, we can build a sector that is professional, competitive, and globally respected.”
