Ghanaians Spent GH¢60 Million on Outbound Travel in 2023 — GSS Report Reveals Cross-Border Trade and Family Ties

Accra — Ghanaians who made same-day return trips abroad spent an estimated GH¢59.8 million in 2023, according to the maiden Ghana Outbound Visitors Report released by the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS).

The data, covering the first detailed assessment of outbound travel expenditure, paints a picture of strong regional mobility, cross-border trade, and deep social linkages, particularly between Ghana and its eastern neighbour, Togo.

Trade, Funerals, and Family: What Drives Ghana’s Outbound Travel

According to the GSS, business and professional trips accounted for 34% of outbound same-day journeys — the largest share of all travel purposes. Funerals followed closely at 23%, reflecting the strong cultural and social traditions that continue to shape travel behaviour among Ghanaians.

Other leading reasons for travel included visits to friends and family, leisure and recreation, and shopping.

In total, 77,501 outbound same-day visitors were recorded in 2023 — with men (40,506) slightly outnumbering women (36,995). The Ashanti Region emerged as the dominant origin of outbound same-day travellers across all quarters, averaging 3,000 to 5,000 trips annually.

Government Statistician Dr. Alhassan Iddrisu noted that this regional performance “depicts the diverse nature of the Ashanti region,” underscoring its role as a hub of both commerce and social connectivity.

Togo Leads as Top Destination and Spending Point

Togo was identified as the top destination country and the location with the highest traveller expenditure, highlighting the strength of Ghana’s economic and social ties with its immediate eastern neighbour.

“This signifies the country’s social and economic relations with Togo,” the report stated, adding that short cross-border travel is not only about trade but maintaining family and social connections.

The GSS report found that 95% of total spending occurred during trips, suggesting strong day-trip commercial activity — from border market exchanges to transportation and hospitality services.

How Ghanaians Travel: Road, Self-Planning, and Small Operators

Almost all same-day trips were made by road, primarily through buses, mini-vans, and bicycles, confirming that land borders remain central to Ghana’s regional mobility network.

Dr. Iddrisu observed that “almost all same-day trips were by road, reflecting how central our land borders are.”

A remarkable 94.4% of trips were self-arranged, while only a small fraction was organised through travel and tour agencies or group travel packages.

This, the report noted, underscores the low penetration of structured travel services in short-distance cross-border mobility, but also points to opportunities for growth in local travel facilitation and tourism packaging.

Policy Recommendations: Unlocking the Potential of Local Travel and Tourism

Dr. Iddrisu called for tax breaks for travel and tour operators that rely on local products and services, urging a collaborative approach to enhance Ghana’s domestic and regional tourism competitiveness.

He recommended that hospitality operators, airlines, tour agencies, and vehicle rental services collaborate to design comprehensive travel packages that improve pre- and post-trip experiences for travellers.

Such initiatives, he said, would not only strengthen Ghana’s tourism sector but also help formalise a segment of the economy that remains largely informal yet economically significant.

Mapping Ghana’s Mobility Economy

The GSS’s maiden Outbound Visitors Report forms part of a broader effort to map Ghana’s mobility economy, providing data to guide investment and policy decisions in tourism, transport, border infrastructure, and small enterprise development.

By documenting spending patterns, regional origins, and the socioeconomic purpose of travel, the report offers valuable insight into how movement across Ghana’s borders reflects deeper trade and cultural linkages in the sub-region.

As Ghana’s tourism sector expands under the government’s “Beyond the Return” and “24-Hour Economy” initiatives, the data provides a foundation for designing targeted interventions that can harness the full potential of local travel to create jobs, stimulate business, and deepen regional integration.

Source: Accra Business News