Year of Return: Ghana made $3.3 billion from the initiative – Tourism Minister

Year of Return: Ghana made $3.3 billion from the initiative – Tourism Minister

- The Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Barbara Oteng-Gyasi, has revealed that the 2019 Year of Return initiative brought in $3.3 billion

- She said the average expenditure per tourist was about $2,391

- Barbara Oteng-Gyasi stated the government has plans to take advantage of the success of the initiative and build upon it

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The Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Barbara Oteng-Gyasi, has revealed that the 2019 Year of Return initiative made Ghana a whopping $3.3 billion in revenue.

Ms Oteng Gyasi said the average expenditure per tourist was about $2,391 which was spent on accommodation, food and beverages, shopping, local transport, and entertainment.

Addressing issues related to the Year of Return in Parliament today, May 28, 2020, she stated the government has plans to take advantage of the success of the initiative and build upon it.

Year of Return: Ghana made $3.3 billion from the initiative– Tourism Minister
Tourism Minister Barbara Oteng-Gyasi Source: UGC
Source: UGC

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“By the end of 2019, the international arrivals reached 1.13 million from 956,372 in the year 2018. The average expenditure per tourist increased to $2,931. The receipts attributed to tourism is, therefore $3.312 billion," she said.

She also indicated that the influx of tourists into the country within that period had a positive impact on airlines, hotels, tour operators, restaurants, and arts and craft dealers.

The Year of Return campaign was launched in September 2018 by the Akufo-Addo government, to encourage African diasporans to come to Ghana to settle and invest in the continent.

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In other news, YEN.com.gh has learned that customers of banks in Ghana have enjoyed holidays on repayment of loans to the tune of GHC1.6 billion as of April 25, 2020.

According to the president of the Ghana Association of Bankers (GAB), Alhassan Andani, the rescheduling formed part of relief measures to support businesses and individuals directly affected by COVID-19 pandemic.

Andani explained that businesses in the services sector have benefitted from loan deferments for up to a year.

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Source: YEN.com.gh

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