The Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) has officially endorsed 64 events for the first phase of this year’s “December In GH” celebration. Entering its sixth edition, the “December In GH” campaign has firmly established itself as the leading tourism attraction in Ghana during the year-end period, drawing in thousands of visitors from November to early January.

At the unveiling ceremony, held yesterday at the Osu Castle Gardens, Ben Anane Nsiah, the Deputy CEO – General Services of the GTA, highlighted the campaign’s substantial impact. He noted that “December In GH,” which originated as part of the Year of Return and Beyond the Return initiatives, has brought significant benefits to Ghana’s tourism and hospitality industries.

Mr. Anane Nsiah emphasized that the campaign leverages Ghana’s rich cultural offerings, including music, food, and arts, to attract a diverse range of visitors during the festive season. He pointed out that five-star hotels achieve an impressive 99.6% occupancy rate during the period, with the average stay of visitors extending to 17 days.

Looking forward to this year’s festivities, Mr. Anane Nsiah promised an exciting and grand celebration in 2024 that will showcase Ghana on the global stage.

GTA CEO Akwasi Agyeman, who presented the endorsed events, mentioned that the Secretariat and the Steering Committee of Beyond The Return received 95 submissions for endorsement. After a thorough evaluation, 64 events were selected, while the remaining applicants were advised to address certain issues that led to their exclusion.

The criteria for selection included the credibility of the events, alignment with the Beyond The Return pillars, and the ability of organisers to manage logistics, security, and venue arrangements effectively.

The Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Andrew Egyapa Mercer, also addressed the gathering, reiterating the Ministry’s commitment to supporting “December In GH.” He highlighted the initiative’s importance to Ghana’s tourism industry, noting that it contributed significantly to the $3.8 billion in tourism revenue generated last year.

Mr. Egyapa Mercer described “December In GH” as a major event that goes beyond festive celebrations, encompassing everything that represents Ghana’s culture, music, food, and hospitality. He called for collaboration among stakeholders to make this year’s celebration even more successful.

The Beyond The Return Secretariat is currently accepting submissions for the second batch of events until 16th September.