GTDC Sees Early Wins In Digital Tourism

Prof. Kobby Mensah

 

CHIEF EXECUTIVE Officer of Ghana Tourism Development Company (GTDC), Professor Kobby Mensah, has reported encouraging early results from its newly launched digital tourism platforms, highlighting their potential to drive investment, boost visitor spending, and support long-term growth across the tourism sector.

The Ghana Tourism Investment Platform (GTiP), one of GTDC’s flagship digital initiatives, is already profiling a diverse portfolio of tourism investment opportunities across the country.

According to Prof. Mensah, eco-tourism currently dominates the platform, accounting for 33 per cent of listed opportunities, followed by leisure tourism and heritage and cultural tourism, each representing 13 per cent. The platform also features hybrid tourism products that combine eco, leisure, beach, sports, adventure, and heritage offerings, reflecting Ghana’s broad and evolving tourism appeal.

Beyond investment profiling, GTiP has generated critical infrastructure insights for potential investors. Data from the platform indicates that electricity, internet connectivity, and road access are available at 100 per cent of the sites profiled.

However, the platform also revealed a significant infrastructure gap, with zero availability of treated water recorded across all sites, identified as a key area requiring urgent attention.

While subscription-based revenue from GTiP has yet to commence, GTDC noted that the platform is not currently designed as a revenue-generating product, but rather as a strategic tool to position Ghana as a structured, transparent, and data-driven tourism investment destination.

In parallel, the Ghana Tourism Marketplace (GTM) recorded its first major live-usage performance during the December festive season, providing early validation of digital demand for tourism services. Between December 1 and 26, 2025, the platform supported bookings for curated tours and events, generating total revenue of GH¢25,662.24 from 76 bookings. Platform earnings from commissions amounted to GH¢102.24, with 21 services available for live booking during the period.

The “AccraByNight” Tour emerged as GTM’s primary revenue driver, generating GH¢23,940 and accounting for 93 per cent of total platform revenue. Average booking values ranged between approximately GH¢200 and GH¢600. Events contributed an additional GH¢1,620, while accommodation and transport categories recorded no revenue, a situation GTDC attributed to late supplier onboarding rather than a lack of market demand.

GTDC described the combined performance of GTiP and GTM as strong validation of its dual-engine digital strategy.