GHANA 2023 DOMESTIC AND OUTBOUND TOURISM SURVEY
Ghana
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DomesticandOutboundTourismSurvey_Section1-3_Q1-Q4
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May 23, 2026
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Jun 08, 2026
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Identification
Survey ID Number
DomesticandOutboundTourismSurvey_Section1-3_Q1-Q4
Title
GHANA 2023 DOMESTIC AND OUTBOUND TOURISM SURVEY
Country
| Name |
|---|
| Ghana |
Abstract
Domestic tourism is the backbone of Ghana's tourism economy. It moves millions of people across regions every year, sustains households and small businesses, reinforces social ties, and channels spending directly into local economies. Yet until now, its full scale, structure, and economic contribution have not been clearly measured. This report fills that gap. The 2023 Domestic and Outbound Tourism Survey (DOTS): Domestic Overnight provides the most comprehensive and policy-relevant evidence to date on domestic overnight travel in Ghana. It quantifies who travels, why they travel, where they go, how they move, where they stay, and how much they spend. The results offer a clear basis for policy, investment, and private sector action.
Domestic same-day travel by Ghanaians and non-Ghanaians living in Ghana is one of the most active yet least measured parts of Ghana's tourism economy. These short trips, completed within 24 hours and without overnight stay, power social life, enable business, sustain markets, and move money across regions. This report presents findings from the 2023 Domestic and Outbound Tourism Survey (DOTS) on domestic same-day visitors and provides the most comprehensive national evidence to date on the scale, patterns and economic value of this form of travel in Ghana.
The Domestic and Outbound Tourism Survey (DOTS), conducted by the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) in 2023, focuses on Outbound Same-day Visitors - Ghanaians and non-Ghanaians who travelled outside the country and returned within 24 hours. The study fills a critical data gap by documenting their profiles, trip characteristics, and spending patterns across all four quarters of 2023.
Domestic same-day travel by Ghanaians and non-Ghanaians living in Ghana is one of the most active yet least measured parts of Ghana's tourism economy. These short trips, completed within 24 hours and without overnight stay, power social life, enable business, sustain markets, and move money across regions. This report presents findings from the 2023 Domestic and Outbound Tourism Survey (DOTS) on domestic same-day visitors and provides the most comprehensive national evidence to date on the scale, patterns and economic value of this form of travel in Ghana.
The Domestic and Outbound Tourism Survey (DOTS), conducted by the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) in 2023, focuses on Outbound Same-day Visitors - Ghanaians and non-Ghanaians who travelled outside the country and returned within 24 hours. The study fills a critical data gap by documenting their profiles, trip characteristics, and spending patterns across all four quarters of 2023.
Unit of Analysis
Households (household members who had travelled during a reference period )
Scope
Keywords
| Keyword |
|---|
| Destination |
| Domestic Same-day Visitor |
| Domestic Tourism |
| Length of Stay |
| On-trip Expenditure |
| Tourism |
| Tourist Sites |
| Trip |
| Visitor |
| Means of Transport |
| Purpose of Visit |
| Resting place |
| Package Tour |
| Occupation |
| Expenditure on Transport |
| Expenditure on Shopping |
Coverage
Geographic Coverage
The 2023 DOTS was conducted by the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) using a nationally representative, two-stage stratified sample design. A total of 18,500 households were selected from 740 Enumeration Areas across all 16 regions, covering both urban (57%) and rural (43%) localities. Data were collected quarterly throughout the year using Computer-Assisted Personal Interviewing (CAPI), in line with international standards set by the United Nations Statistical Division, Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development and United Nations World Tourism Organisation. The survey captured detailed information on visitor characteristics, trip purpose, transport modes and expenditure, ensuring results that are reliable, policy-relevant and internationally comparable.
Producers and sponsors
Producers
| Name |
|---|
| Ghana Statistical Service |
Funding Agency/Sponsor
| Name | Abbreviation | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Government of Ghana | GoG | Funding |
| World Bank | WB | Funding |
Sampling
Sampling Procedure
The 2023 Domestic and Outbound Tourism Survey (DOTS) employed a two-stage sample design to ensure both national and sub-national representation. The first stage involved selecting 740 Enumeration Areas (EAs), while at the second stage, 25 households were selected from each sampled EA, resulting in a total of 18,500 households. A stratified systematic probability proportional to size approach was employed for both stages.
The survey design ensured comprehensive representation at both the regional (16 regions) and sub-regional (urban/rural) levels. Stratification at these levels was introduced to improve the accuracy of estimates, resulting in 32 strata, which comprised the 16 administrative regions, further divided into urban and rural localities.
The 18,500 households selected were distributed across the 740 EAs, with 422 (57%) located in urban and 318 (43%) in rural areas. This distribution was informed by the estimated prevalence of domestic and outbound tourism in Ghana. A random sampling method was used to ensure that each of the 25 households selected within each EA had an equal chance of inclusion in the final sample.
The survey design ensured comprehensive representation at both the regional (16 regions) and sub-regional (urban/rural) levels. Stratification at these levels was introduced to improve the accuracy of estimates, resulting in 32 strata, which comprised the 16 administrative regions, further divided into urban and rural localities.
The 18,500 households selected were distributed across the 740 EAs, with 422 (57%) located in urban and 318 (43%) in rural areas. This distribution was informed by the estimated prevalence of domestic and outbound tourism in Ghana. A random sampling method was used to ensure that each of the 25 households selected within each EA had an equal chance of inclusion in the final sample.
Data Collection
Data Collection Mode
Data collection used Computer-Assisted Personal Interviewing (CAPI), aligned with international standards under the Tourism Satellite Account (TSA) framework and the International Recommendations for Tourism Statistics.
The data collection was conducted using three types of survey instruments: a listing form and two structured questionnaires for households and individual levels.
The DOTS Listing Form was used to collect information on households within selected structures, forming the Secondary Sampling Unit (SSU) for household selection.
The household questionnaire was divided into three modules:
Module A captured respondents' background characteristics, covering ten key sections: sex, relationship to the household head, age, marital status, religious affiliation, place of birth, nationality, education, association membership, disability status and employment status.
Module B collected data on household income and expenditures, assets, and liabilities during the reference period, as well as funds allocated for tourism, vehicle ownership and whether the household had taken out a loan.
Module C covered the household travel schedule, collecting details on travel activities within the reference period, including domestic same-day trips, domestic overnight trips, outbound same-day trips and outbound overnight trips. It also recorded reasons for not travelling and the intended purpose of any trips
undertaken.
The individual questionnaire was designed to identify household members who had travelled during the reference period. It was organised into four sections based on the type of travel: domestic same-day, domestic overnight, outbound same-day and outbound overnight visitors.
The data collection was conducted using three types of survey instruments: a listing form and two structured questionnaires for households and individual levels.
The DOTS Listing Form was used to collect information on households within selected structures, forming the Secondary Sampling Unit (SSU) for household selection.
The household questionnaire was divided into three modules:
Module A captured respondents' background characteristics, covering ten key sections: sex, relationship to the household head, age, marital status, religious affiliation, place of birth, nationality, education, association membership, disability status and employment status.
Module B collected data on household income and expenditures, assets, and liabilities during the reference period, as well as funds allocated for tourism, vehicle ownership and whether the household had taken out a loan.
Module C covered the household travel schedule, collecting details on travel activities within the reference period, including domestic same-day trips, domestic overnight trips, outbound same-day trips and outbound overnight trips. It also recorded reasons for not travelling and the intended purpose of any trips
undertaken.
The individual questionnaire was designed to identify household members who had travelled during the reference period. It was organised into four sections based on the type of travel: domestic same-day, domestic overnight, outbound same-day and outbound overnight visitors.
Metadata production
Producers
| Name | Abbreviation | Affiliation | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ghana Statistical Service | GSS | autonomous | Documentation of the study |